The Life of Chuck gets its first full trailer released. Based on the short story by Stephen King in the 2020 collection If It Bleeds, the story follows Charles “Chuck” Krantz’s (Tom Hiddleston) life in reverse chronological order. Unlike the tales for which King is primarily known, this is not a horror story. The upcoming The Life of Chuck is written and directed by Mike Flanagan, who previously helmed the King movies Gerald’s Game and Doctor Sleep. Flanagan is continuing his collaborations with King through adapting his magnum opus, The Dark Tower, as well as a Carrie TV miniseries.
NEON has now released the trailer for The Life of Chuck. The trailer opens with Chuck’s grandfather, Albie Krantz (Mark Hamill), delivering a monologue to a young Chuck as we see him at different points in his life, from attending a funeral as a child to dancing in the street as an adult. Moments of both joy and sorrow are witnessed as music swells throughout the trailer. A teacher, Marty Anderson (Chiwetel Ejiofor), is shown in distress as the world around him is falling apart. A mysterious message in the sky reads “Thanks Chuck!” Check out the trailer below:
What The Trailer Means For The Life Of Chuck
It Parallels Other Emotional King Adaptations
The marketing for The Life of Chuck makes it clear that this movie is a departure from Flanagan’s typical work. Like King, Flanagan is known for his work in the horror realm. The teaser trailer for The Life of Chuck also struck a similar chord, with both trailers saying the movie is from the author of The Green Mile, The Shawshank Redemption, and Stand By Me, which acts as a reminder that King has written mulтιтudes outside the horror genre. It also sets the tone for the emotional journey viewers can expect to go on when The Life of Chuck hits theaters on June 6.
The movie looks to be an emotional salve that is absolutely needed right now.
The Life of Chuck premiered at TIFF in September 2024 and won the People’s Choice Award at the festival. At the time of writing, the movie has a positive 86% on Rotten Tomatoes. ScreenRant‘s Mae Abdulbaki wrote in her Life of Chuck review that “The film is poignant and meaningful, with an appreciation for life that reminds us why we live it and how to enjoy it as well.” With its initial positive reception, Flanagan is setting up to deliver a film that will resonate deeply with audiences.
Our Take On The Life Of Chuck Trailer
It Could Be One Of The All-Time Great King Adaptations
The trailer is designed to be sentimental, including having the trailer read “[From] The Heart & Soul of Mike Flanagan,” instead of a standard “Written & Directed By.” The short story is not only one of best King has written in recent years, but of all time. Through past and future projects, Flanagan has shown that he has a reverence for King’s work.
While Doctor Sleep and Gerald’s Game had to make some narrative changes to make the movies work, The Life of Chuck looks to be a very faithful adaptation. The moments in the trailer are instantly recognizable to readers, never straying far from the source material. The movie looks to be an emotional salve that is absolutely needed right now, and if The Life of Chuck can live up to the hype, it could be one of the best King adaptations yet.
Source: NEON
