11/22/63: James Franco to Lead Hulu’s Stephen King Adaptation

Hulu’s adaptation of the Stephen King book, “11/22/63,” has nabbed James Franco as its lead, Hulu and Warner Bros. announced.

The nine-episode series — which will be produced by J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot production company, and written by Bridget Carpente — follows English teacher Jake Epping (Franco), who “travels back in time to prevent the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. But his mission is threatened by Lee Harvey Oswald, his falling in love and the past itself … which doesn’t want to be changed.”

Are you excited to see what Franco does with the role?

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Hulu Orders Stephen King’s 11/22/63 Straight to Series

Hulu has ordered 11/22/63 — based on the Stephen King novel with the same name — straight to series.

Here’s what Hulu has to say about the show, which will come from J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot production company…

““On November 22, 1963, three shots rang out in Dallas, President Kennedy was killed, and the world changed. What if you could change it back?” Hulu is about to take viewers on a journey to find out in 11/22/63, a new Hulu Original series from J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot Productions (Person of Interest, Fringe, Lost), acclaimed author Stephen King, executive producer/writer Bridget Carpenter (The Red Road, Parenthood, Friday Night Lights) and Warner Bros. Television. The announcement was made today by Craig Erwich, Senior Vice President and Head of Content, Hulu.

 

Based upon the best-selling 2011 novel written by King and published by Scribner, 11/22/63 is a thriller in which high school English teacher Jake Epping travels back in time to prevent the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. But his mission is threatened by Lee Harvey Oswald, his falling in love and the past itself … which doesn’t want to be changed.

 

A nine-hour event series, 11/22/63 has received a direct-to-series order from Hulu, and the project marks the first original programming collaboration between Hulu and WBTV. J.J. Abrams, Stephen King, Bridget Carpenter and Bryan Burk are executive producers of 11/22/63. Carpenter will write the teleplay, based on the novel by King. Bad Robot’s Kathy Lingg is co-executive producer, and Athena Wickham is producer.

 

Hulu will be the U.S. home for 11/22/63, and Warner Bros. Worldwide Television Distribution will distribute 11/22/63 globally.

 

Craig Erwich said: “J.J. Abrams and Stephen King are two of the most celebrated storytellers of our time, and we are excited to be working with them and Warner Bros. Television to bring this unique take on one of the most seminal historic events of the twentieth century to Hulu. 11/22/63 already resonated with audiences as a best-selling novel, and we are looking forward to bringing the riveting story to the screen.”

 

Stephen King said: “If I ever wrote a book that cries out for long-form, event TV programming, 11/22/63 is it. I’m excited that it’s going to happen, and am looking forward to working with J.J. Abrams and the whole Bad Robot team.”

 

J.J. Abrams said: “I’ve been a fan of Stephen King since I was in junior high school. The chance to work with him at all, let alone on a story so compelling, emotional and imaginative, is a dream. We are thrilled to be working with Hulu on this very special project.”

 

Bridget Carpenter said: “Stephen King is one of my literary heroes. Creating this miniseries from his extraordinary book is a dream come true. My dad, a lifelong Stephen King fanatic, still cannot believe it.”

 

Stephen King is one of the world’s most successful writers, having published more than 50 books in an illustrious career spanning 40 years, from the publication of his first novel, Carrie, in 1974, through to the upcoming November 11, 2014, release of his latest, Revival. 11/22/63 was named one of the 10 best books of 2011 by The New York Times, named one of 10 books we loved reading in 2011 by USA Today and honored as an example of notable fiction of 2011 by The Washington Post. King’s works have been adapted for theatrical motion pictures and television more than 50 times, including projects such as Carrie, The Green Mile, Maximum Overdrive (which he directed himself), Misery, The Mist, Pet Sematary, The Shawshank Redemption, The Shining and Stand By Me, to name just a few. King is also currently an executive producer of the CBS series Under the Dome.

 

J.J. Abrams is currently at work writing, producing and directing the highly anticipated feature film Star Wars: Episode VII, and he is also producing the next installments of the Mission: Impossible and Star Trek movie franchises. Abrams’ Bad Robot Productions is best known in television for its hit series Felicity, Alias, Lost, Fringe and Person of Interest, among others.

 

Bridget Carpenter’s TV credits include writing/executive producing Sundance Channel’s The Red Road, writing/co-executive producing NBC’s Parenthood and Friday Night Lights, and writing/co-producing Showtime’s Dead Like Me. She is also an award-winning playwright whose works have been produced throughout the U.S.”

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Are you excited to see 11/22/63?

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