The creative minds behindThe Black Phoneare working on a new horror movie, and it’s one whose source material Stephen King loves. Directed by Scott Derrickson and co-written by C. Robert Cargill, the 2021 psychological horror starring Ethan Hawke, Mason Thames, Madeleine McGraw, and others is an adaptation ofJoe Hill’s short story of the same name. Besides the title, the creative duo of Derrickson and Cargill are also well-known for their work onSinister, the firstDoctor Strange,andThe Exorcism of Emily Rose.
PerThe Hollywood Reporter,Derrickson and Cargill are back in the horror genre with an adaptation ofRoad of Bones. Based on Christopher Golden’s novel of the same name, the film will follow an American documentarian who travels to the infamous Siberian highway, Kolyma Highway, to chronicle the road’s tragic history, only for him and his group to be haunted and chased by angry, mysterious figures in the frozen region. Derrickson and Cargill will co-write the script and produce it via their Crooked Highway production banner as the first in their first-look deal with Screen Gems/Sony, and Derrickson will direct.
What This Means For Horror Fans
Derrickson and Cargill have been very active, with the duo’s most recent project being Apple TV+‘sThe Gorge, which came out in February and was the streamer’s biggest original movie launch ever. Meanwhile,The Black Phone 2is dueto arrive on October 17, with the follow-up to the 2021 horror hit set to explore the characters’ lingering trauma with the return of the titular central object, as well as Ethan Hawke’s The Grabber. WithRoad of Bonesnow in the works, it seems that the duo aren’t looking to take a break between projects.
Golden’s supernatural thriller combinesSiberian folklore and survival horror, whichdraws similarities toThe Black Phone. Though not based on any specific case, the way that the 2021 movie, and its source novel, explored serial crimes and supernatural horror runs parallel with real-life events. Kolyma Highway, on the other hand, is a real highway in Siberia and was built by inmates during the Soviet Union’s Stalinist era. The lore has it that the 2000 km highway was built over the hundreds and thousands who died during the construction from 1932 to 1953.
It’s Very Exciting
Horror fans who have enjoyedThe Black Phoneshoulddefinitely check out the upcomingRoad of Bonesmovie adaptation. Not only does the project have a fascinating historical appeal, but it also seems to provide the perfect material for the creative duo to weave their own brand of storytelling into it. Golden is also serving as an executive producer alongside Vince Cheng and Pete Donaldson, thus ensuring the original creative mind behind the project is being consulted.
Derrickson and Cargill’s 2021 psychological thriller proves that one of the duo’s strengths lies intheir ability to transform a familiar story into a creatively refreshing and haunting feature. Since its release,The Black Phonehas received high praisefrom critics, and with the upcomingRoad of Bonesadaptation being rooted in the rich history of the Kolyma Highway, the duo have an opportunity to again bring something very unique to the horror genre.
