Warning: This article discusses depictions of violence.
There are several Stephen King stories that, surprisingly, haven’t been adapted yet. Stephen King’s many books make great movies and TV shows, and the likes of It, ‘Salem’s Lot, and Carrie prove this. However, despite the several existing and upcoming movie and TV Stephen King book adaptations, there are some тιтles that are yet to be made for the screen.
While a lot of these are short stories or lesser-known тιтles, it’s odd that so many of King’s more notable works don’t have their own film or TV series yet, like The Eyes of the Dragon, for example. Although there are creative complications and reasons why certain stories are harder to adapt than others, most of King’s tales are still worthy. Regardless of why, these Stephen King stories are yet to be adapted for either the big or small screen.
10
Revival
A Strange Preacher With Electrical Powers
Revival is an unbelievably underrated Stephen King book, and it’s strange that there is yet to be an adaptation of it. The story follows the main character, Jamie Morton, throughout his life and focuses on the interactions he has with his rival Charles Jacobs, an unhinged scientist and Methodist minister. Jamie’s character development throughout is fantastic, and the way he progresses from an innocent child to a troubled adult would make a brilliant and endearing movie.
Jacobs’ strange ability to heal others with electricity is eerie, too, but it would also allow for some interesting special effects on the big screen. While there have been attempts at a movie before, Mike Flanagan’s adaptation of Revival is no longer in development. However, this proves that a film version of Revival is possible and there is a lot of interest for one, and perhaps readers will be fortunate enough to see one in the near future.
9
Joyland
A Summer Ghost Story Like No Other
Joyland is one of Stephen King’s best ghost stories, which follows summer carnival employee Devin and his strange experiences at his place of work. The wholesome backdrop of a seaside carnival, and the creepy ride that is inhabited by the ghost of a girl whose murder was never solved, creates an overall unsettling feeling throughout.
Other than the ethereal elements of this tale, Joyland would make a great movie because of Devin’s subplots, like his struggles with suicidal feelings and his breakup with his girlfriend. There is supposedly a TV adaptation of Joyland in the works, but considering there hasn’t been an update on it since the last announcement in 2021, it seems unlikely it’s happening.
However, Joyland’s story would work far better as a movie. Devin’s narrative is intriguing and nerve-wracking, but considering Mike Flanagan’s efforts with King adaptations and тιтles that feature several young adult characters like The Midnight Club, the director is a fabulous choice to make a movie of Joyland.
8
Insomnia
A Lack Of Sleep Can Be Petrifying
With other King adaptations that are set in the fictional town of Derry, Maine being such a success, like It and It Chapter Two, it’s clear that the location is a great place for a horror movie. Insomnia is also set in Derry, which focuses on the retired Ralph Roberts, who suffers from sleep maintenance insomnia and is essentially nocturnal.
Although this story is a challenging one to make into a movie, and many believe Insomnia is the one Stephen King book that can never be adapted, it’s not impossible, and it honestly deserves the silver screen treatment. The main difficulty is the third act of the book, and the villainous Ed Deepneau’s connection to Stephen King’s ultimate villain, the Crimson King.
However, with Mike Flanagan’s Dark Tower adaptation on the way, it’s the perfect time for an Insomnia movie, as the projects can work in tandem and the narrative wouldn’t need to be altered. Insomnia heavily relies on mythology, too, which is perfect imagery for a King film.
7
Duma Key
The Eerie Power Of Artwork
Duma Key is the only novel from King that is set in Florida, which is an unusual setting for the King of Horror, but an interesting one. The book follows Edgar Freemantle, a man who loses his arm in a workplace accident and is encouraged to return to his hobby of restoring paintings after.
Fremantle’s arrival in the тιтular location sees him cross paths with all manner of intriguing personalities and develop an odd paranormal ability through his artwork. Duma Key’s heartbreaking ending alone is enough to warrant an adaptation, let alone the whole story. While some characters receive unfair conclusions, Duma Key’s narrative is still gripping.
The artistic themes throughout are an unusual choice for a horror story, but they work, and it would be fascinating to see this tale pan out on the big screen. Adaptations of Duma Key have been teased several times over the years, but unfortunately, the only one to officially be announced is still stuck in development hell and hasn’t received an update for years now.
6
The Eyes Of The Dragon
A King Fantasy тιтle That Deserves An Adaptation
Considering Flanagan’s upcoming Dark Tower TV show, another Stephen King story that ties into The Dark Tower books that is worthy of an adaptation is The Eyes of the Dragon. There are a ton of connections between the two, as The Eyes of the Dragon is set in the realm of Delain from The Little Sisters of Eluria, and so a movie adaptation could serve as a fantastic spinoff тιтle to The Dark Tower. The Eyes of the Dragon is told from the point of view of an unnamed narrator, and follows Randall Flagg’s attempts to destroy the Kingdom of Delain.
The book has the potential to be as popular as shows like Game of Thrones, and considering The Eyes of the Dragon is King’s only fantasy novel, it’s surprising that movie producers aren’t rushing to get their hands on it. Despite attempts to turn it into a movie in the early 2000s, and multiple failed tries at a TV adaptation over the years, The Eyes of the Dragon is yet to make it to screens in either format.
5
The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
Trisha’s Terrifying Hike Could Make A Brilliant Movie
The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon is the closest thing to a young adult book from King that readers will ever get, but the odd balance between the pains of growing up and a harrowing trek through an eerie landscape strangely works. The story follows nine-year-old Trisha, who injures herself on a family hiking trip and starts to lose grip on her sanity.
Psychological horror movies are hugely popular, and The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon is a perfect тιтle for this subgenre.
Trisha’s narrative is endearing, and as the pneumonia sets in, she is distracted from her crush on the тιтular baseball player by the various demons and evil creatures she starts seeing. The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon is a unique тιтle, and it’s a great challenge for a movie. King doesn’t exactly clarify whether or not the threats Trisha faces are real, but this adds to the overall freakiness of the story.
Psychological horror movies are hugely popular, and The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon is a perfect тιтle for this subgenre. This book is another that supposedly has a movie coming, but considering the lack of updates since the confirmation of Lynne Ramsay as director in 2020, the almost five years of silence makes it seem unlikely to happen.
4
“The Man In The Black Suit” (Everything’s Eventual)
The Devil Comes In Many Forms
There are several adaptations of stories from Stephen King’s Everything’s Eventual, but “The Man in the Black Suit” is surprisingly one of the few that doesn’t have a movie. The horrifying short story follows nine-year-old Gary, who meets the тιтular character after the death of his brother.
The Man is a perfect horror movie villain, especially because of his towering height, razor-sharp teeth, and the fact he’s actually the Devil. He can easily be compared to the likes of Slenderman, so it’s odd that there is yet to be a feature-length film of “The Man in the Black Suit.” While there is a short film from 2004, there still isn’t any major adaptations of King’s story.
“The Man in the Black Suit” is also Stephen King’s best period horror story, too, although a movie adaptation could easily alter the narrative and set it in the present day. Although this is only a short story, there’s plenty of content to cover. Gary fears meeting the Man again throughout his entire life, and a film adaptation could delve into how the villain’s haunting words impact his later childhood and adult years.
3
The Breathing Method
The Bitter Winter Can Be A Killer
The novella The Breathing Method is a perfect Stephen King story for winter reading, which recounts the chilling tale of a woman in the 1930s, who despite being decapitated while driving on an icy road, gives birth to her illegitimate child. Narrator David learns about Sandra’s harrowing story from her doctor, Dr. Emlyn McCarron, at a strange gentlemen’s club in Manhattan.
Sandra’s unsettling fate and the implications of the gentlemen’s club being otherworldly makes The Breathing Method an amazing potential movie. The jump between time periods is a great opportunity for filmmakers to get inventive, and even expand upon King’s original work, in fact.
As of 2025, there has only been one attempt at an adaptation of The Breathing Method, but it is still stuck in development hell after its initial announcement in 2012. With several disappointing updates and multiple changes to production staff, there is no end in sight. Hopefully, someone will pick it up again, as The Breathing Method is very deserving of a movie.
2
One For The Road (Night Shift)
The ‘Salem’s Lot’s Sequel Story Has A Lot Of Potential
“One for the Road” is one of the most chilling short stories in Stephen King’s Night Shift collection, and another тιтle of his that hasn’t been adapted yet. The short story serves as somewhat of a sequel to ‘Salem’s Lot, and follows a man named Gerard Lumley, who breaks down in a blizzard near Jerusalem’s Lot.
“One for the Road” is set two years after the events of ‘Salem’s Lot, and the charred remains of the iconic town is still overrun with vampires, which raises the stakes when Lumley’s wife and daughter disappear into the snowstorm. While “One for the Road” would make a rather short film, a TV adaptation could work, especially as the story could be expanded past Lumley and his family and delve further into the locals of the neighboring towns.
Plus, with the success of the 2024 ‘Salem’s Lot remake, it’s an ideal time to adapt “One for the Road,” whether that is as its own тιтle or as part of an anthology series. There’s a great opportunity to flesh out the world of ‘Salem’s Lot even more so here, and hopefully, readers will be treated to an adaptation in the future.
1
The Talisman/Black House
King’s Collabs With Straub Could Launch An Entire Franchise
The Talisman and Black House are a result of Stephen King’s collaborations with fellow author Peter Straub. It’s surprising that these books are yet to be adapted for the screen, considering how much potential Jack Sawyer’s story has. The Talisman follows a young Jack’s attempts to find the тιтular crystal in order to save his mother’s life, and while he is successful, Black House revisits him in his adult years and pushes him back into the strange world known as the Territories.
These novels could work as movies or as a TV show, but either way, it has the potential to spawn a whole franchise if executed correctly.
Stephen King’s The Talisman 3, the placeholder name for the third entry, is also on the way. A movie version of The Talisman spent decades in development hell before failing, and the Duffer brothers TV adaptation of these stories has also gone quiet. However, there’s hope for the future.
These novels could work as movies or as a TV show, but either way, it has the potential to spawn a whole franchise if executed correctly. Both books cover decades of Jack’s life, and with the upcoming final installment, The Talisman and Black House can easily become a movie trilogy or a multi-season TV show. Hopefully, Stephen King will consider this.
