While Stephen King adaptations have enjoyed a new resurgence in popularity in recent years, there’s still one underrated book of his, Revival, that I can’t believe hasn’t been turned into a movie or TV show by now. Revival tells a story over years of a man named Jamie Morton, from childhood to adulthood, and the various run-ins he has with a charismatic and dangerous revival Methodist minister named Charles Jacobs, who is as much a mad scientist as he is a man of the cloth and hawker of religion.
Stephen King’s Revival is truly haunting, with an ending about as bleak and memorable as anything I’ve read in one of his books (and believe me, I’ve read a lot of Stephen King books). As with a few of King’s books, there’s an underlying thematic exploration of addiction and substance abuse, but also the madness of grief, of scientific exploration driven by fanaticism, and questions about what happens when we die. There’s a lot of richness for an adaptation to dig into, which is why it’s almost criminal that not one, but two canceled adaptations of Stephen King’s Revival never made it to the screen.
Revival Is 1 Of Stephen King’s Most Underrated Books
It’s One Of His Finest Works Of The Past Decade
When people think of Stephen King, they understandably think of his old work, the “hits,” so to speak: IT, Carrie, Cujo, etc. His newer books haven’t quite taken hold of the collective imagination like his older books, but such is the nature of our modern era, where we’re all buried under an avalanche of entertainment and content and it’s hard for anything to break through the noise – even works from legendary authors. I think that’s why fewer of his books have been cultural juggernauts in recent decades.
I also think Stephen King suffers from the same phenomenon that plagues so many iconic artists who have been influential for a very, very long time. His writing has been so influential that so many writers of a younger generation grew up reading him and, naturally, their own writing style emulates his. His writing, which was uniquely singular in the 70s, 80s, and even into the early 00s, doesn’t quite feel as standout anymore, not because it’s changed, but because there’s an entire generation of writers intentionally or unintentionally copying his style.
His writing, which was uniquely singular in the 70s, 80s, and even into the early 00s, doesn’t quite feel as standout anymore, not because it’s changed, but because there’s an entire generation of writers intentionally or unintentionally copying his style.
Still, I really think that Revival is one of his more underrated modern gems. It currently has a 4.2/5 on Goodreads, and while that’s a good rating, ratings aren’t the entirety of a book’s worth. I love Revival because I personally think it is Stephen King at his best, flexing his uncanny ability to explore slow-growing horror in a small town, which he’s always had, with the mellow lyricism he’s gained in his writing as he’s aged. It’s also downright terrifying and existentially horrific at times, showing King hasn’t at all lost his touch when it comes to scaring the pants off you.
Revival
Revival is an electrifying novel about addiction and fanaticism from Stephen King. The story takes place over several decades which makes it realistic but disturbing.
King guides the reader through a strange event that happened more than five decades ago in New England concerning a church minister. After the fallout, the author explores the early life stories of two different but interesting characters. One is the pious man who loses everything he has, and the other is a young boy who suffers a terrible loss in his family.
The story explores how two dissimilar men can be doomed to the same destiny despite their past. Unlike other stories by King, where the reader can easily separate themselves from the characters, you will find yourself identifying with one of the heroes in the story. King forces you to see the world through the eyes of the protagonists, which makes the story more lively and immediate.
The story forces an inner dialogue on what you could have done in certain situations. Interestingly, you might only do this for certain characters but not others, a trick that only King can pull on a reader.
If you have never questioned whether your life rolls out by design or coincidence, prepare to do exactly that! You will start to wonder where the border between reality and the supernatural lies after finishing the story.
Revival is one of the few novels by Stephen King where religion takes center stage in a non-critical but thought-provoking manner. The author presents ethical dilemmas in a way that feels targeted less at the characters and more at you. Consider picking up this brilliant work of literature.
I’m So Disappointed Revival Hasn’t Been Made Into A Movie Or TV Show
It Would Be The Perfect Gothic Horror TV Series
The ending of Revival alone is begging for an adaptation, whether a movie or TV show (though I personally think the long timespan of the book would be better suited to a TV series). It has a great, Gothic feel, both in its tone and in the older works that directly inspired it: H.P. Lovecraft, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, and Arthur Machen’s The Great God Pan. Like all the best Stephen King works, the idea for Revival was percolating in his brain for years – decades, even – before he wrote it.
Like all the best Stephen King works, the idea for
Revival
was percolating in his brain for years – decades, even – before he wrote it.
Considering the current era of Gothic shows, TV series with distinct, unusual settings, and shows that dive into the weird and metaphysical, Revival would fit right into that mold. Stephen King is a writer whose books have gotten more adaptation-ready as he’s aged, especially with so many of his works already being adapted. He’s gotten good at balancing the horror and speedier action scenes with the deep character development and rumination on the human condition that have been his trademark. The narrative structure of Revival could map easily to an episodic TV show format with only some minor changes.
Mike Flanagan’s Canceled Revival Adaptation Makes The Situation Even Worse
Josh Boone & Mike Flanagan Both Tried To Adapt It (& Failed)
That it hasn’t yet seen the light of a screen is incredibly disappointing, all the more because it hasn’t been for a lack of trying. In early 2016, it was reported that The Fault in Our Stars and New Mutants director Josh Boone was working on a screen adaptation of Revival as a movie, which he adapted at the same time he worked on the TV adaptation of Stephen King’s The Stand. In December of that year, Boone even revealed that Russell Crowe was attached to the adaptation. Since then, however, potentially because of the failure of New Mutants and the poor reception of The Stand, that project was scrapped.
Stephen King stalwart Mike Flanagan then took up the torch, announcing his intention in May 2020. A few months later, Flanagan revealed that he’d even finished a first draft of the screenplay, which King approved. Unfortunately, like Boone’s attempt before him, the plug was pulled on Mike Flanagan’s adaptation of Revival and no studio would pick it up. Speaking to Boone on a podcast in December 2020, Flanagan commiserated with his fellow failed Revival adapter, explaining, “I stepped on the exact same landmine, and ended up in the exact same place… We should get together some day and share boards, and drafts, and scars. I kind of hit the same wall with it where it was just so expensive. Man, did I love it, though.” (via The Company of the Mad)
Could Stephen King’s Revival Still Be Adapted In The Future?
It Would Work Best As A TV Adaptation
That’s all a real bummer, but I still truly think Revival could work as an adaptation; those doing it should look at making it a TV series, though, not a theatrical release or feature film format. Sure, there’s definitely a high bar with some of the CGI in certain scenes, especially those that take place in The Null, a sort of chaotic Hell dimension. But, heck, if Stranger Things can have multiple scenes in the Upside Down, then surely a Revival TV series could spring for a few scenes in The Null. Right now, Revival is dead in the water. But if someone can figure out a way to crack the Stephen King code while keeping a reasonable budget, it would make for an incredible show.
Stephen King
Discover the latest news and filmography for Stephen King, known for Creepshow and Sleepwalkers.
- Birthdate
- September 21, 1947
- Birthplace
- Portland, Maine, USA
- Height
- 6 feet 4 inches
- Professions
- Author , Screenwriter , Producer , Director , Actor