Ewan McGregor to play Danny Torrance from 'The Shining' in sequel titled 'Doctor Sleep'
Warner Brothers is just one of many studios looking to cash in on the hype of adaptations of Stephen King novels following the enormous success of 'It: Chapter One' last year. They have reportedly been working on the movie adaptation of 'Doctor Sleep,' which chronologically follows 'The Shining,' for some time now, and it has been announced that Ewan McGregor has been cast in the leading role of Danny Torrance.
'Doctor Sleep' will follow Danny Torrance in his adulthood as he deals with a plethora of personal problems in the aftermath of the events at the Overlook Hotel that saw his father killed. Psychologically traumatized, Danny falls prey to the same legacy of pent-up anger, rage, and alcoholism that haunted his father, as well as his father's father their entire lives. The powerful 'shining' that gave him the ability to foresee events has faded away with his drinking problems.
But it returns when he decides to embrace sobriety and use the powers to help and provide comfort to the terminally ill at a hospice. His run-in with Abra Stone, who seems to exhibit the same psychic traits as him, changes his life forever. At the other end, there's 'True Knot,' a group of quasi-immortals who possess their own 'shine abilities.'
However, the 'True Knot' have malicious intentions. They wander across America and periodically feed on 'steam,' a psychic essence produced when the people who possess the shining die in pain, and when they become aware of Stone, who supposedly possesses the most powerful 'shining' in existence, it sets up a confrontation with Danny, who once again has his world thrown into disarray.
Mike Flanagan, known for horror films such as 'Absentia,' 'Oculus,' 'Hush,' and 'Before I Wake,' has been roped in to direct the film. The fact that he has already helmed another adaptation of one of Stephen King's novel for Netflix, 'Gerald's Game,' quite possibly worked in his favor. Flanagan’s producing partner, Trevor Macy, will produce along with Vertigo Entertainment’s Jon Berg.
While, technically, the movie will be a sequel for Stanley Kubrick's 1980 adaptation of King's 'The Shining,' few will make the mistake of terming it as such, especially considering the billing it would have to live up to. At the time, 'The Shining' was considered to have been a failure since it managed to collect just $44 million on a $19 million budget. However, since then, it has grown in stature significantly, with many recognizing it for the masterpiece that it is; in fact, it is considered to be one of the greatest horror movies ever made.
'Doctor Sleep' is scheduled for a January 24, 2020 release, and Warner Brothers is said to be working on a prequel titled 'Overlook Hotel' as well.