Summary

The Stand movie adaptation should follow the book's original timeline to avoid mistakes like the 2020 show.
Flashbacks should be avoided in The Stand movie to focus on a logical and coherent storytelling structure.
The 1994 miniseries of The Stand is considered superior to the 2020 version by fans, despite both having low Rotten Tomatoes ratings.

Stephen King was a big fan of Cormac McCarthy's The Road, and his own post-apocalyptic story is one of his most creative and haunting books. When The Stand was published in 1978, readers were immersed in a horrifying world where a flu virus is being used as a weapon. Along with this stark and bleak premise, the hopeful connections between some of the main characters left a lasting impression. Now that Doug Liman is directing a movie version of The Stand, fans are worried about how the long book and the massive cast of characters can be properly adapted. Two miniseries were released almost 20 years apart in 1994 and 2020, and neither one captured the spirit of the book.

Along with getting excited about the upcoming short story collection that takes place in The Stand's universe, The End of the World As We Know It, fans are curious about how the movie will be structured. One thing is clear: The Stand movie shouldn't make the same mistake that the 2020 show did.

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By Aya Tsintziras

Stephen King's The Stand Movie Adaptation Should Follow The Book's Original Timeline

Jovan Adepo and Heather Graham in The Stand

When the second The Stand miniseries was released in December 2020, fans were introduced to the virus called Captain Trips and compelling characters like pregnant college student Frannie Goldsmith (Odessa Young), Randall Flagg (Alexander Skarsgård) with his paranormal powers, and overly confident Harold Lauder (Owen Teague). The Stand miniseries changed the timeline and told a non-chronological story with several flashbacks, which was a huge mistake.

While many would argue that a movie adaptation isn't necessary, if The Stand is going to be a solid film, it needs to follow the book's timeline. There's no reason to allow the story to get bogged down with corny flashbacks and exposition. The movie needs to focus on the present, not the past, and allow audiences to get to know the core characters who matter the most. It's possible to develop the characters and include a few brief explanations of their backstory so fans know who they are. But jumping around too much is a bad idea.

Flashbacks are tough to get right, and many would argue that Lost did them the best. While fans debate the ending of the ABC drama, many agree that without the flashbacks, it would be a very different show. Since the plane carrying Jack (Matthew Fox) and the other main characters crashes on the island, the flashbacks are a necessary storytelling device. They're a clever way to share the personalities, dreams, and struggles of the survivors. But The Stand movie should steer clear of flashbacks and tell one logical story.

The 2020 miniseries failed to capture the dark and powerful tone of King's book, which was a shame. Instead of becoming invested in the sad and riveting story, viewers focused on the perplexing timeline. King once shared his love for Black Summer, the Netflix series about the zombie apocalypse, and he tweeted that the show's lack of "endless flashbacks" impressed him. The Stand movie will only succeed if it sticks to the timeframe from the novel.

Both The Stand Miniseries Have Low Rotten Tomatoes Ratings (But Fans Prefer The 1994 Version)

While The Stand is one of the most interesting and popular Stephen King books, the two adaptations barely made an impression on his huge fanbase. The 2020 miniseries has a 57% Rotten Tomatoes rating and 25% on the Popcornmeter. The 1994 miniseries fared a little better with 70% and 73%.

When people think about the best King adaptations, they picture the eerie and cruel clown Pennywise in both IT movies or the unsettling 1990s thriller Misery. However, some fans appreciate The Stand 1994 miniseries, and it's generally considered to be the superior version. When discussing it on Reddit, many praised the cast. Redditor @ComplexAd7272 wrote:

"it’s genuinely scary and unnerving, especially in the first half, which is fantastic for a TV network miniseries."

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