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Legendary horror writer-director Frank Darabont is in talks to come out of retirement to helm two episodes of the upcoming final season of Stranger Things. Film critic Jeff Sneider revealed the news on The InSneider.
On the television side of his career, the Golden Globe-nominated filmmaker is best known for developing The Walking Dead. He also served as the showrunner, as well as executive produced, penned and directed episodes of the post-apocalyptic horror drama series between 2010-2011.
On the movie side of his career, Darabont also scribed such horror features as A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, The Blob and The Fly II. He also wrote and helmed the classic screen adaptations of three of Stephen King’s most acclaimed novels: The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile, both of which the filmmaker was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. He also penned, directed and The Mist, which marked his last feature film.
Darabont’s experience adapting King’s books for the screen will help him as he helms episodes for the fifth season of the Emmy-nominated sci-fi-horror drama show. The novelist’s influence is clear on the hit Netflix series, which is set in the 1980s, when he reached true worldwide acclaim and success.
Darabont is returning to the director’s chair for the first time in over decade with his attachment to Stranger Things. He last helmed episodes for television for his 2013 neo-noir crime drama show, Mob City. The TNT series only lasted six episodes.
Deadpool & Wolverine co-writer-helmer Shawn Levy, who serves as a producer on Stranger Things, will direct the final season’s sixth episode, which is titled Escape From Camazotz. The Duffer Brothers, who created and serve as the series’ showrunners, will helm five of the season’s eight episodes.
Dan Trachtenberg, who directed Prey, had originally been attached to helm episodes of the drama series, as well. However, scheduling conflicts appear to have led him to exit the show.
Darabont admitted recently that he has a few projects he’s interested in developing, but added that there’s been a lack of interest from producers and studios to finance his scripts. The filmmaker currently holds the rights to two stories from King – The Long Walk and The Monkey – but hasn’t adapted either one yet.
Darabont was also originally attached to direct the films Law Abiding Citizen and The Huntsman: Winter’s War. However, he left both productions due to creative differences with the producers.
Darabont has also written a script for a movie that’s focused on the American Civil War, which is based on an unproduced screenplay by Stanley Kubrick and historian Shelby Foote. Darabont has said he feels it’s the best scrip he’s ever written, but that no studio wanted to fund it. Due to his frustration over the lack of studio interest in the project, he hinted that he retired from filmmaking in 2021.
So Darabont will instead focus on Stranger Things, whose final season will be its largest yet. It will include feature-length episodes once again, much like it did in its fourth season.
The series’ fifth season was initially scheduled to begin filming last year. However, the Hollywood strikes paused all production on the show. The series is now on track to resume production this year, and is expected to be released next year.
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