Over the past couple of weeks, we’ve learned quite a bit of information about director Josh Boone’s plans for the long-gestating adaptation of Stephen King’s The Stand, including his desire to bring a top-notch cast to the project. And if a new report from The Guardian is any indication, the first piece of that mind-blowing cast may have been found: Matthew McConaughey.
The Guardian says that McConaughey is up for the role of Randall Flagg, the film’s primary villain, described as “a grinning cowboy with supernatural powers who establishes a power base in the ruins of Las Vegas.” This certainly sounds like the kind of thing that might catch McConaughey’s eye, and the complexities of the character should be well-suited to the actor’s talents.
The Stand will also mean a busy schedule for the foreseeable future. During a lengthy interview on Kevin Smith’s Hollywood Babble-On podcast, Boone revealed that he and Warner Bros. had agreed on a multi-picture deal that would spread The Stand out over four films:
“I can’t tell you anything about how we’re going to do them, or what’s going to be in which movie. I’ll just say we are going to do four movies, and we’re going to do THE STAND at the highest level you can do it at, with a cast that’s going to blow people’s minds. We’ve already been talking to lots of people, and have people on board in certain roles that people don’t know about. We’re looking to go into production next year, maybe in the spring.”
The “cast that’s going to blow people’s minds” line is what really stands out here. The Stand has a huge number of characters, and would definitely need a strong group of people, all bringing their A-game, to really do justice to King’s novel. If there’s any actor in Hollywood right now that’s consistently bringing their A-game, it’s McConaughey. Here’s hoping this one gets some official confirmation soon.
The Stand will begin production next year. No word on a potential release date, but we’ll keep you posted.
josh boone matthew mcconaughey stephen king the stand