'Doctor Sleep': Release date, cast, plot, trailer and everything you need to know about the horror sequel to Stanley Kubrick's 'The Shining'

Written and directed by Mike Flanagan, the horror drama stars Ewan McGregor as Dan Torrance, a man with psychic powers who struggles with alcoholism and helps a young girl take on a cult that feeds of children with psychic powers
PUBLISHED JUN 14, 2019

'Doctor Sleep,' the horror drama based on the 2013 novel of the same name by Stephen King, is a sequel to 'The Shining.' Warner Bros dished out the official trailer teaser Thursday and the clip is a visual treat for those who have watched the first part and read King's novel. Ahead of the film's release this winter, here's what we know about the chilling horror tale so far.

Release date:

'Doctor Sleep' will premiere in theaters November 8. 

Plot:

McGregor plays Dan Torrance, a man with psychic powers known as "the shining".(IMDb)

According to Warner Bros., the official synopsis reads: "Still irrevocably scarred by the trauma he endured as a child at the Overlook, Dan Torrance has fought to find some semblance of peace. But that peace is shattered when he encounters Abra, a courageous teenager with her own powerful extrasensory gift, known as the 'shine.'"

Abra realizes Dan shares the same abilities and pleads for his help against the merciless Rose the Hat and her followers, The True Knot, who feed off the shine of innocents in their quest for immortality. The pair form an unlikely alliance and engage in a do-or-die battle with Rose. 

Cast:

Ewan McGregor ('Fargo') plays Dan Torrance, a man with psychic powers known as "the shine". His character first appeared as a child in the 1980 film 'The Shining', played by Danny Lloyd. Rebecca Ferguson ('Mission Impossible: Fallout') portrays Rose, a member of the cult that feeds on the powers of children with psychic powers. Kyleigh Curran stars as Abra Stone. Carl Lumbly, Zahn McClarnon, Emily Alyn Lind, Bruce Greenwood, Jocelin Donahue, Alex Essoe and Cliff Curtis round up the rest of the cast. 

Writer/Director:

'Doctor Sleep' is written and directed by Mike Flanagan ('Ouija: Origin of Evil', 'The Haunting of Hill House' and 'Hush'). 

Trailer:



 

One of the most notable things in the trailer is that it reveals some of the characters mentioned in the books while also juxtaposing bits of the original movie's footage - the scary O'Grady twins, blood flowing out of the elevator and Danny riding his tricycle. There are ample references to Stanley Kubrick's movie. Ferguson's Rose is enough to terrify and the trailer sees a now grown-up Danny Torrance (Ewan McGregor) help a young girl who has the same psychic powers he does.

News:

Talking about the film, director Flanagan told Collider the movie is an adaptation of the novel 'Doctor Sleep,' which is Stephen King’s sequel to his novel, 'The Shining.' But the movie also exists very much in the same cinematic universe Kubrick established in his adaptation of 'The Shining.' 

Watch this space for more updates on 'Doctor Sleep'

If you are looking forward to 'Doctor Sleep', enjoy these in the meantime:

'It', 'The Shining', 'The Haunting of Hill House', 'Absentia' and 'Oculus'.

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