Are the literary works of Peter Straub set for a Hollywood comeback?
While the acclaimed horror author (and sometime collaborator of Stephen King) hasn't had an adaptation of one of his books hit the screen since 1981's “Ghost Story” starring Fred Astaire, Melvyn Douglas and Douglas Fairbanks Jr., HitFix has learned exclusively that Straub's 1999 novel “Mr. X” has been optioned for a possible feature film treatment by director Josh Boone's Mid-World Productions banner.
Boone, who helmed last year's smash hit “The Fault in Our Stars” is also set to write and direct “New Mutants,” a new “X-Men” franchise for Fox, and Anne Rice's “Vampire Chronicles” for Universal.
“Mr. X” centers on Ned Dunstan, a man who returns to his hometown on the eve of his 35th birthday to discover the terrifying source of the precognitive visions he's been haunted by since childhood.
The film will be produced by Mid-World Productions, with Benjamin Straub, Peter”s son, producing as well. Seafront Productions, founded by Benjamin and Peter Straub, is currently bringing more of the heralded author's work to TV and Film.
In addition to co-authoring two novels with King (“The Talisman” and “Black House”), Straub has penned such bestsellers as “Julia” (itself adapted into the 1977 film “The Haunting of Julia” starring Mia Farrow), “Shadowland” and “Koko.”