Rumor: Alfonso Cuarón Offered ‘The Shining’ Prequel

A prequel to Stanley Kubrick’s classic The Shining is in the works.

According to Schmoes Know, Oscar-winning Gravity director Alfonso Cuarón has been offered exclusive right to decide whether he wants to direct The Overlook Hotel, a prequel to The Shining, or not.

Though the film has been in development since the summer of 2012, there are many big names behind horror sequel. The Walking Dead showrunner/writer/producer Glen Mazzara is writing the script, with Laeta Kalogridis (Avatar, Shutter Island), Bradley Fischer (Black Swan, Zodiac) and James Vanderbilt (Zodiac, The Amazing Spider–Man) all on board to produce.

The exact plot has not been revealed quite yet, but it is no doubt that the film will examine the mysterious origins of one of horror’s most famous and iconic haunted houses.

According to an interview with Stephen King, the movie could be based on a prologue, called Before the Play, which was cut from his novel. When asked how he felt about the movie sequel, King replied to SlashFilm, “Am I eager to see that happen? No, I am not.”

If you want to know what happens after the events in the book, the horror mastermind has recently published a sequel, titled Doctor Sleep, that focuses on an adult Danny Torrance.

Cuarón has also been rumored to be in talks with Warner Bros. to possibly direct the Harry Potter spin-off Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Only time will tell which rumor will follow through, although it is possible that Cuarón could direct the horror sequel after he’s concluded with Fantastic Beasts. 

Take a look back at the trailer of 1980’s The Shining: