This Stephen King Adaptation Deserves A Reboot Or Remake

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October 22, 2023

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Written by Kelli Marchman McNeely

Kelli Marchman McNeely is the owner of HorrorFuel.com. She is an Executive Producer of "13 Slays Till Christmas" which is out on Digital and DVD and now streaming on Tubi. She has several other films in the works. Kelli is an animal lover and a true horror addict since the age of 9 when she saw Friday the 13th. Email: horrorfuelinfo@gmail.com

We live in a time where everything is being rebooted, remade, or reimagined. Usually, I’m against that kind of thing, but there’s one Steph King project I would actually love to see be redone, the 2002 mini-series “Rose Red.”

“Rose Red,” which features three episodes, sees a college professor and a team of psychics investigate an old mansion, hoping to explain some of the mysterious deaths on the property and capture actual paranormal activity. When participants, including psychics, stay in the mansion, a terrifying force threatens to destroy them all.

The cast featured some rather large names at the time, including Nancy Travis (So I Married An Ax Murder), Matt Keeslar (Scream 3), Kimberly J. Brown, who you should recognize from the Halloween classic Halloweentown, Julian Sands (Warlock), David Dukes (Gods and Monsters), and Judith Ivey, Melanie Lynskey, Matt Ross, and Kevin Tighe.

First, let me say the series was great when it was released. I remember watching it when it aired (yes, I’m old), and I absolutely loved it. However, it has not aged well.

Many films and series made in the early 2000s often have that hazy, cheap look, and Rose Red is one of them. The special effects could also use a serious upgrade. Technology has advanced by leaps and bounds since it was released in 2002. however, they can’t compare to modern special effects.

The story is fantastic and filled with twists, turns, and scares. I mean, it is a Stephen King story, after all. It was even nominated for a Prime Time Emmy and six other awards. My argument for a reboot/remake has nothing to do with the story itself. It’s all about appearance.

Another argument for a reboot/remake: unlike many Stephen King adaptations, Rose Red is much less known, sadly. It has flown under the radar for a long time, making it a perfect project to be updated.

If it was up to me, and actors from other King movies and series were used, my dream cast would include:

Steve Rimbauer: Ewan McGregor (Doctor Sleep)

Joyce Reardon: Carla Gugino (Gerald’s Game)

Annie Wheaton: Vivien Blair (The Boogeyman)

Cathy Kramer: Dee Wallace (Cujo)

Emery Waterman: Edward Furlong (Pet Sematary 2)

Sister (Wheaton): Sophie Thatcher (The Boogeyman)

Nick Hardaway: Jason Clark (Pet Sematary 2019)

Victor Kandinsky: Jack Nickelson (The Shining)

Pam Asbury: Emily Deschanel (Rose Red)

Professor Carl Miller: Chris Messina (The Boogeyman)

Kevin Bollinger: Finn Wolfhard (IT)

As for the ideal director, I would love to see Mike Flanagan (Gerald’s Game, Doctor Sleep), Rob Savage (The Boogeyman), or Lindsey Anderson Beer (Pet Sematary: Bloodlines) at the helm.

Here’s a look back at the original trailer for Rose Red. If you haven’t seen the mini-series, I highly recommend that you correct that immediately. You can watch it now on Hulu or Apple TV+.

Is there a Stephen King movie or series you would like to see remade/rebooted?