LaKeith Stanfield set to dial up the horror in TV series adaptation of The Changeling
The forthcoming Apple TV Plus series is based on Victor LaValle's novel of the same name
TV News LaKeith Stanfield
LaKeith Stanfield’s next project is a drama series adaptation of The Changeling for Apple TV+, in which he will star and executive produce. The Changeling is a “fairytale for grown-ups. A horror story, a parenthood fable and a perilous odyssey through a New York City you didn’t know existed.”
The Apple TV+ series is based on the 2017 bestselling novel of the same name by Victor LaValle. LaValle’s novel centers around an antiquarian book dealer who ends up encountering a fantastical side of New York City while in search of his wife and newborn child.
Stanfield is most known for his roles in Donald Glover’s Atlanta, Sorry To Bother You, and Judas and the Black Messiah, for which received an Oscar nomination this year for his supporting role. He also had featured roles in Knives Out, Someone Great, Uncut Gems, Crown Heights, Get Out, and Straight Outta Compton.
The series will be written and adapted by Venom’s Kelly Marcel, who will also serve as showrunner and executive producer. Queen & Slim director Melina Matsoukas will direct and executive produce the series.
Marcel’s screenwriting portfolio is short but takes some unexpected twists. Her first film was 2013’s Saving Mr. Banks, the one about Walt Disney’s efforts to obtain the rights to Mary Poppins. From there, she went on the write the screenplay for the film adaptation of the erotic Twilight fan fiction-based Fifty Shades Of Grey. Then, she decided to take on writing Venom. Most recently, she wrote the live action Cruella, and also wrote the ever-forthcoming Venom: Let There Be Carnage.
Matsoukas has made her name creating music videos for artists such as Beyoncé, Rihanna, Whitney Houston, No Doubt, Lady Gaga, and Solange. Yes, she directed Beyoncé’s legendary “Formation” music video. After directing episodes of Master Of None and Issa Rae’s Insecure, she went on the direct her debut feature Queen & Slim.
14 Comments
I’m sick of garish, bloated remakes of classic works of psychological horror! [Reads article.] Oh. Never mind.
Oh, I thought this was going to be a remake of the Canadian horror movie by the same name. That would’ve been very interesting, to see LaKeith Stanfield in that.Unfortunately, this does not look promising. The credentials of the writer/showrunner are looking pretty disagreeable.Then again, so did those of Craig Mazin pre-Chernobyl. Guess we’ll see.
Yes! I thought the same thing about The Changeling. Stanfield in the George C. Scott role would be great. It’s a good slow burn, creepy movie.
I thought the exact same thing. That movie scared the CRAP out of me as a teenager. George C. Scott was the lead – amazing movie, watch it! (Not interested in this show, however.)
Agreed! It’s a fantastic horror-movie, well-written, great-looking and poignantly terrifying. Everyone who likes horror (and good movies) should watch it.Which is why I got excited when I read the headline, and subsequently disappointed to find out that it’s something else, apparently.
it could be worse. It could be a remake of the Angelina Jolie film Changeling. Now would Stanfield be Jolie or the kid?
I haven’t seen that one. Would that be a very bad idea? I think Stanfield can absolutely match Jolie in terms of sex appeal.
The 1980 film was the first thing I thought of too… great to see all the love it’s getting in the comments. Personally, I just love a great, moody, atmospheric ghost story. Hardly anyone seems to know how to do it right these days. They always try and make it too much like a regular horror flick with a bunch of jump scares and other cliches.
It’s true, they rarely make em like that anymore. And it’s such a good story. It’s quite ingenious in that it’s basically a thriller wrapped in a horror story. And it’s so effective in its subtle use of movie language.
A film in a very similar vein that didn’t much love on its release but has since become something of a cult favorite is 1988’s Lady in White.
I have never heard of that one. I’ll definitely check it out. Thank you!
I thought of that movie first as well, but I’m not disappointed. The book was excellent and if this does it justice it will be great. I will definitely watch.
The book is fantastic. Hopefully Stanfield can avoid being a loon.
It’s debatably horror, I guess.
I’m still waiting for an adaptation of The Ballad of Black Tom.