Deadline has learned that Spike released its first trailer for the new 10-episode horror series The Mist, from Stephen King’s short story of the same name.
Stephen King is perhaps America’s most notable horror author, having penned over 50 novels. His work has been the subject of many filmmakers over the years, and his stories have proven elusive to most. Adaptations of King’s work are either hits or misses, ranging from the celebrated Shawshank Redemption to the virtually universally panned Dreamcatcher. A number of films and television shows that have been based off of King’s short stories or novels have flopped, failing to accurately capture the terrifying tone and atmosphere at the heart of King’s work.
King seems to be at the forefront of entertainment recently, with Andres Muschietti’s It slated to release in the fall and Nikolaj Arcel’s The Dark Tower, starring Matthew McConaughey and Idris Elba, positioned for release in the summer. Now, Spike has joined the club.
“Do not fear,” the pastor at the beginning of the trailer asserts. But fear they should. The show follows the characters of a small American town recovering from the events of a brutal crime. Just as they attempt to deal with the drama at hand, a mysterious and foreboding mist rolls in, triggering a wave of fear and chaos along with it.
While the original short story is limited to one setting, with most of the focus on a set of characters trapped in a grocery store together, Spike’s adaptation seems to be taking some liberties and expanding the narrative to include how the invasive mist effects the entire town. The trailer also suggests that the show will include some religious commentary. Footage in the trailer includes several scenes taking place inside a church, with some characters seeming to embrace the mist as Judgment Day while others reject God’s role.
Although King is notoriously difficult to adapt on screen, the 2009 film based on the same short story was considered one of the better adaptations of King’s work. It should be interesting to see how the story transfers on to the small screen.
The Mist will premiere on Thursday, June 22nd at 10 p.m. on Spike.