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The highly anticipated “Wicked” movie is here, and is finally streaming on Peacock. After a tear-filled press tour and glitzy awards season, Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba and Ariana Grande’s Glinda took audiences by storm last fall and is destined to do the same on streaming.

The two leading ladies have become true sisters in the rollout of the film, even revealing several matching tattoos together. While the duo seem picture perfect for the musical adaptation, a list of stars admitted to being in the running for the powerhouses, including Dove Cameron, Renee Rapp and Amanda Seyfried for Glinda.

Jon M. Chu’s adaptation is chalked full of musical theatre trained actors, here’s your guide to the “Wicked” cast.

Cynthia Erivo in “Wicked” (Credit: Universal Pictures) Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba

Erivo leads the larger-than-life film adaptation as Elphaba. The witch (who was born green) attends Shiz University and is...

In 2020, mere weeks before the pandemic, HBO released a 10-episode miniseries adaptation of Stephen King‘s The Outsider. Developed by the great Richard Price, the series stars Ben Mendelsohn, Cynthia Erivo, Jason Bateman, and Julianne Nicholson, adding a little more grit, grime, and story to the 2018 novel. Critics were impressed as were Constant Readers.

Yet so was The Losers’ Club who covered the series live half a decade ago. Now, in the wake of reviewing the novel, they’re revisiting the proverbial crime scene with a murderers’ row of co-hosts to debate whether this run of television supersedes the source material, Erivo’s take on Holly Gibney, the adjustments to character, and more.

Stream the episode below and return this week when the Losers share their favorite King crushes ahead of Valentine’s Day. For further adventures, join the Club over long days and pleasant nights via Apple Podcasts, Spotify,...

Writing can be a very lonely profession. For the most part, it's just you and your brain jotting, typing, or tapping words that you hope form complete, coherent sentences. If you're a creative writer, this process is especially fraught because you're attempting to entertain people whom (for the most part) you'll likely never meet, and whose praise/condemnation you'll never hear.

For professional novelists, the only opinions you're required to hear emanate from your editor, publisher, agent and the like. Other than that, you get to choose whose eyeballs dart across each page of your book. There is no table read for this kind of writing where you get to hear if it works. You're beholden to an individual's reaction, and you can't control how they interact with your writing. All you can do is wait and hope that your words connect.

When it comes to a one-man publishing powerhouse like Stephen King,...

The Losers’ Club leaves Maine and heads to Flint City, Oklahoma, where a grisly murder demands the talents of Stephen King’s favorite cinephile sleuth Holly Gibney. Published in May of 2018, The Outsider is one of King’s more successful forays into the true crime genre, picking up where he left off with the Mr. Mercedes Trilogy.

It’s a story we covered in capsule form over half a decade ago, but today we’re giving it the true Lc treatment with an official, full-length book episode. Join co-hosts Michael Roffman, Jenn Adams, Rachel Reeves, and Randall Colburn as they weigh in on the balance between true crime and the supernatural, debate whether Holly adds or detracts from said balance, and how the Trump and MeToo era may or may not have had an influence on the story.

Stream the episode below and return next week when the Losers revisit...

The upcoming novel by Stephen King, Never Flinch, has an important challenge regarding Holly Gibney that it needs to overcome after her appearance in her headlining 2023 book, Holly. Stephen King's new book Never Flinch promises to add to the author's ongoing collection of crime thriller novels, with detective Holly Gibney at the center. Holly's appearances have been varied across these works since 2014, but Never Flinch is only her third solo appearance in her own connected universe, allowing more of her characterization to shine.

Holly Gibney's appearances in Stephen King's books have steadily both increased her role in the story and showcased more of her capabilities, including her strong deductive reasoning skills. Her latest appearance in Holly, though, has expanded on her growth, with Holly facing several personal issues that intersect with her cases, creating new layers in her evolution. While that is a strong development for the character overall, that...

Quick Links Grief Is the Main Adversary in The Outsider The Outsider Chooses Victims Carefully Children Are Not the Outsider's Only Victims

Out of all Stephen King canon, there is one villain forever destined to terrify children. Published in 1986, It ensured that no child would ever look at a clown the same way. The tome of over 1,000 pages takes place in the fictional town of Derry, Maine, which has been under the constant torment of a fear-eating deity. So named Pennywise for taking on the shape of a terrifying clown, the shapeshifting monster comes to Derry to wreak havoc every 27 years. While the clown is the most notable of its guises, it takes on whatever form will frighten its prey the most.

A ragtag group of kids -- and eventually adults -- takes on Pennywise to officially send it packing. Even so, the entity has made a significant cultural footprint.

Stephen King is officially working on a third installment in The Talisman saga, a series he co-wrote with the late Peter Straub. King revealed this exciting news on Threads, sharing that Straub had conceived the idea for the new book before his passing in 2022. While King is diving into the project, he emphasizes that there’s still a long road ahead before it’s complete.

View on Threads

View on Threads

The original The Talisman was published in 1984, followed by its sequel, Black House, in 2011. The first book introduced readers to Jack Sawyer, a 12-year-old boy on a life-saving quest across parallel worlds, while the sequel, tying into King’s Dark Tower universe, followed Jack as an adult investigating grisly murders in Wisconsin.

Fans have speculated for years whether King would continue the story, especially after Straub’s death, making this confirmation even more significant.

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King shared that Straub...

Stephen King's Never Flinch is one of the most exciting horror books coming out in 2025, and it should lean into the best element of his 2024 release, You Like It Darker. While some of You Like It Darker's stories are stronger than others, the 2024 collection is one of the best additions to King's lineup in recent years. In part, this is because the book feels like a return to form for the author, capitalizing on themes that defined King's most iconic novels and stories from earlier in his career.

The success of You Like It Darker puts pressure on Never Flinch, even though King's 2025 book is a very different publication. Another addition to his Holly Gibney universe, Never Flinch will see its characters investigating a killer — and it's unclear if there will be any supernatural elements to speak of. It's also a larger, more contained work than You Like It Darker,...

Thus far, the character of Holly Gibney has appeared in six different Stephen King books, with the seventh book, Never Flinch, on the way this year. Holly Gibney has become something of an anti-Randall Flagg, appearing across multiple series as a force for good. While Holly Gibney has been controversial among Stephen King readers, King himself clearly loves her and she's become an integral character.

Interestingly, Holly is one of the only Stephen King characters to appear in multiple Stephen King screen adaptations, with Cynthia Erivo playing Holly in The Outsider miniseries and Justine Lupe in the Mr. Mercedes TV show. Clearly, she's here to stay. For those curious about diving into her story, reading the books in chronological order is always the best way, but it's also fun to look at her appearances so far and rank them.

Books In Which Holly Has Appeared

Release Date

Mr. Mercedes

August...

Even in the current era of streaming services, police procedural television is still going strong with shows like NCIS, Law & Order: Svu and 9-1-1 continuously pulling in impressive viewership numbers. These shows usually have numerous seasons and fresh plots that force the audience to think. However, for every popular procedural show, there are bound to be some that receive significantly lesser attention, despite being as good as, if not better than popular police procedurals.

These procedurals didn't get proper time in the spotlight. Instead, they either got overshadowed by more famous shows, had concepts that viewers weren't ready for, or simply got lost in the shuffle. From AI-based thrillers like Person of Interest to fantasy cop shows like Grimm, these underrated procedural shows deserve more recognition. They offer the same mystery, thrills, and adrenaline-spiking action that the genre is so well-loved for.

Updated on December 31, 2024, by Michael Colwander: Police...

Stephen King has an upcoming book hitting shelves in 2025, Never Flinch, and it will hopefully embrace the balance he found in the best story that includes Holly Gibney. The author has had a busy few months. King's new book Never Flinch was announced in November, right on the heels of the anthology The End of the World As We Know It, set in the world of The Stand. Never Flinch is the next book after 2024's excellent You Like It Darker, a collection of short stories, showing King isn't slowing down any time soon.

Multiple TV and movie adaptations of King's projects are currently in the works, as well, including Mike Flanagan's The Life of Chuck and his Dark Tower TV adaptation, Oz Perkins' The Monkey, The Institute TV adaptation, Francis Lawrence's The Long Walk, and Edgar Wright's The Running Man. Clearly, there's no shortage of Stephen King content.

Stephen King is happy to describe his stories like they're a burger-and-fries combo meal. It's a fair self-assessment; King's writing is cozy and approachable in how it tells us about horror and mystery, saving the rare moments of his more lyrical art for the pages where it punches the most. His characters are often familiar to the middle class of the past decades, everyday folk put at odds with something beyond their experience. Many of them do what they must, then fade. King is best at ideas and structure, but his endings -- and even the characters that carry them -- are sometimes weighed down with flaws.

That never stops one of his books from being great fun to devour, and sometimes, some of King's characters get a shine to them that makes them stand out. We're going to have a palaver with 15 of his best, a ka-tet of men...

Stephen King made a good point when he noted that one undervalued thriller is actually one of the best reads of the 2000s. King is a vocal critic of other writers and Stephen King adaptations, taking no prisoners in his commentary - he called Graveyard Shift "just kind of a quick exploitation picture" (Deadline). One feels inclined to trust King's honesty regarding cinema and literature. That is why it is worth paying attention to his interviews and ranking lists when it comes to good books, and King was on fire in the 2000s, making his thriller recommendation well grounded.

Although Stephen King was proficient all throughout the '70s, '80s, '90s, and well into the modern day, he gave the world some underestimated classics in the 2000s. Under the Dome provided one of Stephen King's best human villains, putting him in the right state of mind to evaluate...

Despite being one of Stephen King's best and most regularly recurring characters, Holly Gibney continues to be controversial among a segment of his fanbase. Holly is soon appearing in another book, Stephen King's upcoming Never Flinch. This has led to mixed reactions from his readership, with some happy to get another crime novel from him, and others rolling their eyes that Holly will pop up in another book.

The reaction isn't surprising. Holly Gibney has been a divisive figure among Stephen King readers. Some love her, others hate her, and others think she's fine but would prefer not to see her so much. There are several reasons for this, but regardless of how people feel, it's clear that Holly is here to stay; Stephen King has said she's one of his favorite characters. While she didn't appear in his most recent book, the collection You Like It Darker, she will be in Never Flinch,...

Stephen King impressed with You Like It Darker in 2024, but the collection's success puts even more pressure on his next book, Never Flinch. With a nickname like "The King of Horror," it goes without saying that almost everything King writes is worth a read. However, his older books tend to get more praise, especially the ones that lean into supernatural horror and darker themes. You Like It Darker feels like a return to form on those fronts, and that's something the collection has received praise for.

King recently teased a potential return to the Territories and Mid-World, which is one way the author could top his 2024 release in the future. However, King's next book will be part of his second-largest universe after The Dark Tower, as it features Holly Gibney. Holly is a fairly divisive character. Some readers appreciate the novels she crops up in, while others aren't as fond of her adventures.

There is one obvious reason that ensures the second-biggest universe by Stephen King can never compete with his most interconnected series, The Dark Tower. Stephen King's new book Never Flinch continues the author's dive into the crime thriller genre, although it is still unknown if King will include some of the supernatural staples he is known for, as he did in previous thrillers. His newest book also marks the return of one of his most recent major characters, adding another story to his new tangled world: Holly Gibney.

Stephen King's Holly Gibney universe has been steadily growing for the past decade. First appearing in 2014 in Mr. Mercedes, Holly Gibney's storyline is now nearing the length of King's other seminal work, The Dark Tower series, as there are nine works in that series, and Never Flinch is Holly's seventh appearance. However, while Holly's universe is growing in size, it is...

Holly Gibney, a reclusive private investigator with a savant-like memory, is one of Stephen King’s most prolific characters, showing up in seven separate stories, including his new novel, Never Flinch, according to Entertainment Weekly. Last year, producer Jack Bender quietly announced that he was developing a show based on King's novel Holly, as reported by Cinema Blend, which would mark the character's third on-screen appearance. While Succession actress Justine Lupe portrayed a solid version of Holly in the show, Mr. Mercedes, it was Cynthia Erivo’s portrayal of the character in the HBO miniseries The Outsider that was a standout performance, making her the perfect choice to continue the story of Holly Gibney.

Even though he only just announced it, it seems all but inevitable that Stephen King's upcoming 2025 book, Never Flinch, will be adapted as a TV series within the next few years. King confirmed Never Flinch will be another crime story, and it's set to be released on May 27, 2025. The announcement also revealed a very familiar face to King's Constant Readers will return: Holly Gibney, the reclusive private investigator with obsessive-compulsive disorder and a savant's memory and knack for pattern recognition.

Outside of Randall Flagg, Holly Gibney has appeared in more separate stories than any Stephen King character. It's a testament to how much King loves the character, considering she only first appeared a decade ago in 2014's Mr. Mercedes. In the years since, she's been a major supporting or main character in five more Stephen King books, not including next year's Never Flinch. With that book's release, it's all...

Stephen King's next book has been announced and solidifies his biggest universe outside The Dark Tower. Many of Stephen King's best books are among the eight novels in The Dark Tower series, which, despite ending the main story in 2004, expanded in 2012 with The Wind Through the Keyhole, a story that is set between the fourth and fifth installments. While many of King's other books are not directly part of this series, they still connect, including The Stand's connections to The Dark Tower.

While it is not a Dark Tower book, King's next novel, Never Flinch, is set for release on May 27, 2025 (via Entertainment Weekly) and has significant implications for the expansive universes he has created. The upcoming novel follows a murderer fixated on revenge and a vigilante stalking a feminist celebrity speaker. The two stories are separate until they eventually intertwine in the book's thrilling climax. While there are many new characters,...

Stephen King has announced he has a new book coming out next year, Never Flinch, and with it, Holly Gibney is officially established as his counter to Randall Flagg. Never Flinch is being described as another in King's crime stable, featuring two intertwined narratives that come together in the third act. In it, a madman sends a letter to the Buckeye City Police Department, threatening to kill 14 people in what he claims is an act of atonement. With that, Detective Izzy Jaynes turn to her old friend for help: private investigator Holly Gibney.

Holly Gibney is a well-known name to Stephen King's readers, and, thanks to Justine Lupe portraying her in the Mr. Mercedes adaptation, and Cynthia Erivo portraying Holly Gibney in The Outsider miniseries adaptation, she's also a well-known face. Along with those two adaptations, the character's first starring novel, Holly, is also in development as a TV show.

Master of horror Stephen King returns with another horror novel in the first half of 2025. Entertainment Weekly exclusively shared a first look at the upcoming book, titled Never Flinch, along with an excerpt that will give prospective readers an idea of what to expect.

Never Flinch has several "intertwining storylines," including one that revolves around a popular character who has appeared in several of King's novels, Holly Gibney. Holly first appeared in King's Mr. Mercedes trilogy, followed by The Outsider, and eventually got her own book titled Holly.

Per the outlet, Never Flinch centers on the Buckeye City Police Department after they receive an ominous letter from someone who wants to murder 14 people, all in "atonement for the needless death of an innocent man." Detective Izzy Jaynes is forced to turn to Holly Gibney for assistance.

The second narrative follows a women's rights activist targeted by an angry stalker who opposes her empowering message.

Stephen King‘s “Constant Readers” have read about the character Holly Gibney in the pages of his Bill Hodges trilogy, the novel The Outsider, the If It Bleeds short story from the collection of the same name, and his crime novel Holly. Now, Entertainment Weekly has revealed that Holly is also at the heart of his next novel, Never Flinch, which is set to reach store shelves on May 27, 2025.

A couple of years ago, King told The Kingcast hosts Eric Vespe and Scott Wampler, “I could never let Holly Gibney go from the Mr. Mercedes books. I mean, she was supposed to be a walk-on character and she just kind of stole the book and stole my heart.” Obviously, Holly still has his heart. He had mentioned last year that he was working on another Holly Gibney book, but at that time he was calling it We Think Not. He...

Stephen King’s next novel has been announced and detailed by Entertainment Weekly this afternoon. The outlet reports that King’s Never Flinch will be released on May 27, 2025.

EW details, “Never Flinch features intertwining storylines — one about a killer on a diabolical revenge mission and another about a vigilante stalking a feminist celebrity speaker.”

Of particular note, frequent King character Holly Gibney will return in the new novel!

Here’s the official plot synopsis: “When the Buckeye City Police Department receives a disturbing letter from a person threatening to ‘kill thirteen innocents and one guilty’ in ‘an act of atonement for the needless death of an innocent man,’ Detective Izzy Jaynes has no idea what to think. Are fourteen citizens about to be slaughtered in an unhinged act of retribution?

“As the investigation unfolds, Izzy realizes that the letter writer is deadly serious, and she turns to her friend Holly Gibney for help.

The filmmakers behind Harriet were tasked with securing a Harriet cast talented enough to bring the real-life figures behind Harriet Tubmans story to life alongside some fictional and composite characters. The 2019 film, directed by Kasi Lemmons, follows the events of Tubman's life, focusing on her escape from slavery and subsequent rescue missions as part of the Underground Railroad, which cemented her legacy as an American icon. Harriet takes some creative liberties, including inventing and amalgamating characters for the sake of narrative efficiency, but the broad strokes stay true to history.

Harriet saw a long journey to the screen, with co-writer Gregory Allen Howard first pitching the biopic under the title Freedom Fire in 1994. Howard recalls that one studio executive wanted Julia Roberts to play Harriet Tubman. Thankfully, the final film is more respectful when it comes to casting Harriets real-life figures. That paid off, as the films talented ensemble is a highlight,...

Stephen King's Bill Hodges Trilogy, "The Outsider," "If It Bleeds," "Holly," and his recently announced novel, "Never Flinch," scheduled for May 27, 2025, all feature one of his most beloved characters: Holly Gibney. Initially intended as a side character in "Mr. Mercedes," Holly "just kind of stole the book and stole my heart" King notes in the blurb for her 2023 solo book. Holly has appeared on screen in TV adaptations of "Mr. Mercedes" and "The Outsider," played by Justine Lupe and Cynthia Erivo, respectively.

We are first introduced to Holly Gibney in "Mr. Mercedes," where we learn that she's a computer whiz and a wallflower, highly intelligent yet a social klutz. She proves to be the perfect partner for retired cop Bill Hodges as they team up to hunt down a psychopathic mass murderer. Over the course of a few years, she gradually blossoms into a strong, capable investigator in her own right.

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There's no shortage of Stephen King shows on TV. The prolific horror author's works have been translated to the small screen no fewer than two dozen times across five-plus decades, beginning with Tobe Hooper's "Salem's Lot" miniseries in 1979 and spanning all the way to an upcoming "Sleeping Beauties" adaptation and Mike Flanagan's highly anticipated take on "The Dark Tower." Plenty of King shows have enjoyed celebrated runs and completed the stories their creators planned to tell, but there are a few that slipped through the cracks and were canceled too soon. Among them is "The Outsider," an utterly creepy King adaptation that got the short end of the stick when it debuted in 2020.

"The Outsider" earned rave reviews when it premiered on HBO in January of that year, but by the time its finale aired, the world had other things on its mind.

After releasing The Colorado Kid and Joyland via the Hard Case Crime imprint, Stephen King made his grand debut into the world of hard-boiled crime fiction with Mr. Mercedes. The first in a trilogy, the 2014 novel introduced readers to Bill Hodges, a crusty, retired detective who finds his golden years interrupted by the taunts of a psychopathic killer he failed to apprehend.

A divisive book among the King faithful, Mr. Mercedes is nonetheless an important one, as it introduces Holly Gibney, a recluse-turned-investigator King would go on to feature in four subsequent novels (and one novella), including last year’s Holly.

Join The Losers’ Club’s Randall Colburn, Jenn Adams, Ashley Casseday, and Rachel Reeves as they detail the book’s origins, how it differs from the author’s previous forays into crime, and the ways in which it reflects evolving societal fears about domestic terrorism. They also discuss the...

Stephen King's novel "Holly" is being adapted into a TV show, starring recurring character Holly Gibney. Holly has already appeared in TV adaptations of "Mr. Mercedes" and "The Outsider," played by different actors. An adaptation of "If It Bleeds," a novella featuring Holly, would complete her appearances in other media and bring the collection of the same name to a full circle.

One more Stephen King novel is getting a TV adaptation, and this is great news for a forgotten short story starring the same character. For decades, Stephen King has terrorized generations of viewers and allowed them to explore different fears and meet a variety of monsters, both human and supernatural. With over 60 published works, King's stories continue to be adapted to other media, with some novels even being adapted more than once (as is the case for Carrie and It), though some more successfully than others.

Despite...

Stephen King's 2023 novel Holly will be turned into a TV series, and it features a character that appeared in two previous shows from his universe.

During a Q&a at Chicago's 2023 Printers Row Lit Fest (via CinemaBlend), Emmy Award-winning director and producer Jack Bender, who previously adapted several Stephen King stories for television, revealed that he has a new King adaptation in the works. The novel in question is Holly, King's latest release.

Related Stephen King Blasts Oscar Nominations After Controversial Snubs After some notable snubs, acclaimed author and cultural commentator Stephen King questions the Academy Awards' selection process.

"It’s the joy of telling stories and the making of that with a group of people," Bender said. "That’s one of the best things about making television, when you’re working with great people on material you care about. I’ve been fortunate to know and work with Stephen King – talking about writers.

Stephen King loves Holly Gibney. First introduced in King's crime novel "Mr. Mercedes," book one of the Bill Hodges trilogy, she's returned in his work time and time again. She came back in the two other books in the trilogy: "Finders Keepers" and "End of Watch." Then she appeared in the novel "The Outsider" and the short story "If It Bleeds." Finally, she got a book of her own with "Holly," the newest novel King published (it came out in 2023; the ever-prolific King probably wrote four more novels in the time it will take me to finish this sentence).

Holly has been brought to the small screen twice already. She appeared in the "Mr. Mercedes" TV series, where she was played by Justine Lupe. Then she popped up again in the TV adaptation of "The Outsider," where Cynthia Erivo played the character. Now, Holly is headed to the small screen again,...

A new adaptation of Stephen King's book Holly was announced, featuring recurring character Holly Gibney from previous shows. Jack Bender revealed the TV series adaptation during a Q&a at Chicago's Printers Row Lit Fest in September 2023. Holly Gibney was previously portrayed by Justine Lupe in Mr. Mercedes and Cynthia Erivo in The Outsider, making it unclear who will portray her in the upcoming adaptation.

A new adaptation of a Stephen King book has been announced, revealed to be a TV series featuring a major recurring character from two previous shows. The horror novelist is best known for his work being adapted to film, from Carrie in 1976 to It in the 2010s. His prolific catalog of stories has also made its way to TV with shows like Under the Dome, Lisey's Story, and The Stand.

During a Q&a at Chicago's Printers Row Lit Fest (via CinemaBlend), it was...

Mike Flanagan, known for his successful horror projects, is reuniting with actress Karen Gillan for his next film, "The Life of Chuck." "The Life of Chuck" is based on a short story by Stephen King and will be directed and written by Flanagan, with Trevor Macy sharing writing duties. Gillan previously worked with Flanagan on his 2013 film "Oculus," which was a critical and box office success, and this new project marks their first collaboration since then.

Mike Flanagan’s next horror movie has been revealed, and it’s fulfilling a long-awaited reunion with one actress. Mike Flanagan has earned a spot among the masters of horror with movies like Hush and TV shows like The Haunting of Hill House and Midnight Mass. Flanagan has served as a writer in these and many other projects as well, earning praise for his well-constructed stories, layered characters, and the way he builds up...

That writer from Maine is back at it again. Stephen King one of the most prolific authors in America, is back with a new novel. The novel is called “Holly”. The novel follows Holly Gibney. The character made her first appearance in Mr. Mercedes. She also appeared in Finders Keepers and End of Watch and later was a major supporting character in The Outsider.

“I could never let Holly Gibney go. She was supposed to be a walk-on character in Mr. Mercedes and she just kind of stole the book and stole my heart. Holly is all her.” —Stephen King.

According to his publisher, this is what Holly is all about: Stephen King’s Holly marks the triumphant return of beloved King character Holly Gibney. Readers have witnessed Holly’s gradual transformation from a shy (but alive and ethical) recluse in Mr. Mercedes to Bill Hodges’s partner in Finders Keepers to a full-fledged,...

The next book we’ll be seeing from Stephen King is Holly, which is set to reach store shelves on September 5th (you can pre-order a copy Here) and centers on the Holly Gibney character that King has previously written about in the Mr. Mercedes trilogy, The Outsider, and the If It Bleeds story contained in the short story collection of the same name. Now, during an interview with the Talking Scared podcast, King has revealed three more projects that he’s working on or thinking about working on: another short story collection, another Holly Gibney story, and possibly a third book in the Talisman series he started with the late Peter Straub.

King told Talking Scared (with thanks to The Guardian for the transcription) that the short story collection is called You Like It Darker and is expected to be published sometime in 2024. The book has a page count...

Killer Collectibles highlights five of the most exciting new horror products released each and every week, from toys and apparel to artwork, records, and much more.

Here are the coolest horror collectibles unveiled this week!

Jurassic Park Virtual Pets from Tamagotchi

Ready for a double dose of ’90s nostalgia? Tamagotchi – the beloved virtual pet keychain from our youth – is celebrating Jurassic Park’s 30th anniversary with dinosaur virtual pets. Due out in March, amber and egg versions are available to pre-order for 20.99.

Depending on how you interact with your baby dino, they may evolve into over 20 different dinosaurs, including rarities. If you don’t take proper care of them, they’ll leave you. When your prehistoric pal is in a bad mood, give them a snack (leaves and nuts for herbivores; meat and fish for carnivores) or play one of three mini-games.

Holly by Stephen King

Stephen King will publish Holly on September 5 via Scribner.

Stephen King has been terrorizing generations of readers with his novels and short stories for decades, and while it might seem like he has been working non-stop for years, he actually retired in 2002, but eventually came back. Stephen King’s reign in the horror genre started in 1974 with the publishing of Carrie, and since then, he has allowed readers to explore a variety of fears and meet different creatures and monsters (human and supernatural) in his works. King’s success has expanded to other media with the adaptation of many of his works, though not all of these have been as well received as the source material.

Stephen King has published over 60 novels (including some under the pen name Richard Bachman) and five non-fiction books, along with approximately 200 short stories, and he continues to surprise the audience with more and more terrifying and sometimes tragic stories. King doesn’t show any signs of retiring soon,...

Richard Price wasn't exactly the most obvious choice to adapt Stephen King's 2018 book "The Outsider" into a TV mini-series. Far from a novice in this area, Price had already adapted novels like "The Color of Money" and even his own books "Clockers" and "Freedomland" into films. But his speciality had always been crime thrillers and mysteries that pit their leads against firmly human horrors, rather than fantastical foes like the creature at the heart of King's story.

In Price's hands, "The Outsider" is less "It" and more "True Detective," despite the ancient child-killing entity at the heart of its plot. It's also a ghost story, if not in the typical sense. In a change from King's original novel, the show's protagonist, detective Ralph Anderson (Ben Mendelsohn), is haunted by the death of his young son from cancer some years prior to the series' events. As Price saw it, this...

Variety's Awards Circuit is home to the official predictions for upcoming awards. Variety's Awards Circuit Prediction schedule consists of four phases, running all year long: Draft, Pre-Season, Regular Season and Post Season. Eligibility calendar and dates of awards will determine how long each phase lasts and will be displayed next to revision date.

To see all the latest predictions, of all the categories, in one place, visit The Collective

Draft>>>Pre Season>>>Regular Season>>>Post Season

2021 Golden Globe Predictions:

Best TV Supporting Actress

Updated: Jan. 14, 2021

Awards Commentary:

Gillian Anderson turned heads as Margaret Thatcher in “The Crown,” and she’s now among the frontrunners to be nominated for the TV supporting actress Golden Globe. But she’s not the only contender playing a real-life figure to be in the mix, as Uzo Adubo’s take on Shirley Chisholm for FX on Hulu’s “Mrs. America” also places that actress — an...

Here’s a fun little look behind the curtain. Back when HBO announced the release date of Richard Price’s atmospheric Stephen King adaptation, The Outsider, Den of Geek ran the news as an article, as one does.

Shortly after the article went live, representatives from HBO reached out to clarify that they weren’t categorizing the project as a “miniseries” as many outlets (and none other than Wikipedia itself) had reported but rather a traditional series. It seemed clear then that HBO had at least the possibility of multiple seasons in mind when it greenlit the show. After all, why wouldn’t they? Stephen King adaptations always tend to do well and The Outsider boasted a solid cast and an intriguing concept true crime-meets- the-supernatural concept

The Outsider would then go on to pull off 10 good episodes, receive modest-to-excellent critical acclaim, kill it in the ratings, and drive online...

There will be no second season of The Outsider at HBO.

The premium cabler has canceled the series, which is based on Stephen King's novel.

Despite exhausting the source material during The Outsider Season 1, work had already begun on scripts for a second season, but HBO is not moving forward with it.

Deadline confirmed that HBO is not pursuing a second season, but there is a glimmer of hope.

The Outsider production company MRC is shopping the series to other outlets, meaning that it could pop up somewhere else down the line.

“We enjoyed our collaboration with [executive producers] Richard [Price], Jason [Bateman], Andrew [Bernstein] and the MRC team, and we wish them well in continuing the world created by the brilliant Stephen King,” HBO said in a statement to Deadline.

Added MRC Television President Elise Henderson, “We thank HBO for a great partnership in the first season, and for helping to bring in...

Exclusive: The Outsider, starring Ben Mendelsohn and Cynthia Erivo, has been put into turnaround after HBO opted not to proceed with a second season. MRC, the studio behind the drama series adaptation of Stephen King’s novel, is taking Season 2 out to market.

The pitch, originally presented to HBO, includes a script and bible for a continuation of the story beyond King’s book, which was the source material for Season 1. Series writer/executive producer Richard Price crafted the Season 2 storyline with King’s blessing, sources said. Centered on Erivo’s Holly character, it expands King’s universe, exploring the human, naturalistic and inexplicable with a sustained pervasive dread you can’t put your finger on.

“We enjoyed our collaboration with Richard, Jason [Bateman], Andrew [Bernstein] and the MRC team, and we wish them well in continuing the world created by the brilliant Stephen King,” HBO said in a statement to Deadline.

After months of silence, we now have confirmation about the future of HBO's The Outsider. 

Stephen King has confirmed that The Outsider Season 2 is in the works and that he has already read some of the scripts. 

In a new interview with Entertainment Weekly, the writer of the novel the series is based on has said that the scripts are "really great" and that they have a "real spooky paranormal element."

King was speaking to the outlet about the character of Holly Gibney, who was played by Cynthia Erivo on The Outsider but was played by Justine Lupe on Mr. Mercedes. 

King noted when asked who played the role better than Lupe had an unfair advantage because she got to play the role for three seasons.  

"Cynthia may get that time, because there's going to be a second season of The Outsider as soon as they can get the production going.

Fans of HBO’s crime-horror series “The Outsider” have been waiting for months for the network to announce a Season 2 renewal, which is why Stephen King has great news: scripts for a second season of “The Outsider” have already been written. From the way King talks in a new interview with Entertainment Weekly, it sounds as if HBO is definitely moving forward with “The Outsider” Season 2. The series is developed by Richard Price based on King’s 2018 novel of the same name.

Both HBO’s “The Outsider” and Audience network’s King adaptation “Mr. Mercedes” feature the character of Holly Gibney, played by Oscar nominee Cynthia Erivo in the former and Justine Lupe in the latter. When asked which actress played the better Holly, King noted Lupe had the unfair advantage because “Mr. Mercedes” ran for three seasons. King added “Cynthia may get that time, because there’s going to...

Photo: 'The Outsider'/HBO Richard Price’s new horror series – 'The Outsider' – brings a new perspective to adapted Stephen King content. The new horror series based on the book of the same name, premiered on HBO this January and has been a hot topic ever since. A series surrounding a strange murder, 'The Outsider' follows the investigation unit in a friendly Georgia town, as they run into the supernatural, unprecedented evidence, and outrageous theories. What once seemed like a straightforward case, quickly becomes a tangled web. So what makes this different from any other Stephen King adaptation? This series is driven by a group of characters so different, yet so similar. Terry Maitland (Jason Bateman) is the little league coach everyone knows and adores. Ralph Anderson (Ben Mendelsohn) is a trustworthy cop who is finding his way after the death of his son. And Holly Gibney...

Oscar nominee and The Outsider star Cynthia Erivo is expanding her relationship with MRC Television and Civic Center Media, the studio’s joint venture with UTA, with a first-look deal. Under the pact, Erivo will develop and produce television projects through her newly formed production company, Edith’s Daughter. Additionally Erivo has named former Bron Studios executive Solome Williams as Vice President of Edith’s Daughter, a company whose mission is to “focus on projects that express the beauty in the stories and people who are often overlooked and underrepresented.”

“MRC was an incredible partner on The Outsider and I’m unbelievably excited to begin this new creative journey in television with them,” said Erivo. “I could not think of a better partner than my new Vice President Solome Williams, who is brilliant and has thoroughly impressed me with her experience and drive. I’m looking forward to building with her.

The latest book from Stephen King, a collection of four novellas titled If It Bleeds, has already yielded three separate movie deals since its publication in May.

According to Deadline, three of the tales in the book — “Mr. Harrigan’s Phone,” “Rat” and “The Life of Chuck” — have been snapped up by three different companies. The title story, meanwhile, seems likely to get an adaptation too, since it stars a character that has already appeared in two different King adaptations.

King has an unusual way of doing business in that he licenses the options to his stories for the sum of one dollar (with more to come later), although he gets certain creative control rights as part of the bargain and the productions must go in front of the cameras within specified time frames. That latter aspect may be a challenge with Covid-19 still hampering a lot of Hollywood productions.

Stephen King’s latest bestselling four novella collection If It Bleeds has quickly garnered three option deals, with a fourth in the offing because it involves a preexisting character who just starred in an HBO series adaptation. For those who know that King extends options for $1, that’s an extra $4 in the prolific author’s pocket, with a lot more coming when they get made.

Netflix, Blumhouse and Ryan Murphy have teamed to option the book’s first tale, Mr. Harrigan’s Phone, which John Lee Hancock will adapt and direct. Jason Blum, Murphy and Carla Hacken will produce the feature.

Rat has been optioned to Ben Stiller, who intends to product, direct and star in the feature.

And Darren Aronofsky’s Protozoa has optioned The Life Of Chuck. At this point, Aronofsky is just aboard as producer.

The fourth installment, Let It Bleed, might have found a deal of its own,...

The Emmys work in mysterious ways, and this year, predicting the frontrunners in this sprawling annual contest is made more difficult by the pandemic, which has kept 25,000 TV Academy members home watching television. “We do a lot of guessing,” said one veteran awards campaigner. “We don’t know who everybody is.”

At least Emmy voters have time to sample more online content, and while awards campaigners have figured out how to showcase their talent and stage Fyc panels online (swag and parties have little currency), it’s still hard to measure their reach and impact. “It has shifted because we all have shifted,” said one Emmy strategist. “People are experimenting with new shows and seeing more. But the stuff has to be good.”

That could mean that the usual advantages thrown to shows spending the most on awards campaigns may not apply for Emmys 2020. Each year, the networks and studios...

The Emmys work in mysterious ways, and this year, predicting the frontrunners in this sprawling annual contest is made more difficult by the pandemic, which has kept 25,000 TV Academy members home watching television. “We do a lot of guessing,” said one veteran awards campaigner. “We don’t know who everybody is.”

At least Emmy voters have time to sample more online content, and while awards campaigners have figured out how to showcase their talent and stage Fyc panels online (swag and parties have little currency), it’s still hard to measure their reach and impact. “It has shifted because we all have shifted,” said one Emmy strategist. “People are experimenting with new shows and seeing more. But the stuff has to be good.”

That could mean that the usual advantages thrown to shows spending the most on awards campaigns may not apply for Emmys 2020. Each year, the networks and studios...

Stephen King novel adaptations are not a new concept, but mastering how to convert the famous author’s work into a compelling psychological thriller was a task that HBO’s miniseries “The Outsider” was able to accomplish, leaving fans to speculate if there might be a sequel to the drama series.

After an exclusive screening, actress Cynthia Erivo, director/executive producer/actor Jason Bateman, along with writer and executive producer Richard Price, joined the Variety Streaming Room to reflect on adapting “The Outsider” for television. They also hinted at a possible sequel.

The drama miniseries follows a seemingly straightforward investigation into the gruesome murder of a local boy, but after an insidious supernatural force edges its way into the case, detective Ralph Anderson and private investigator Holly Gibney are forced to question everything they believe to be real.

When Price was offered the chance to write the pilot for the drama series,...