The Stand (2020 miniseries)

Production

In January 2011, Warner Bros. Pictures and CBS Films were developing a feature-length film adaptation of Stephen King's 1978 novel The Stand. David Yates was hired to direct in August 2011 with Steve Kloves writing the screenplay; they subsequently left the project, with Yates later explaining that he felt it would work better as a miniseries. Ben Affleck was named as the new director in October 2011. In January 2012, David Kajganich was hired to write the screenplay.

Affleck admitted in November 2012 that he was having difficulty with the adaptation. Kajganich stated that when he was hired, the plan was to make a two-film adaptation; he finished the first draft of part one, only for Warner Bros. to change their minds and change the project to a single film, after which he scripted a one-film version. Scott Cooper replaced Affleck as director in August 2013, but left the project in November 2013, later stating that he was unable to make the story fit into one film.

On February 25, 2014, Josh Boone was hired to write and direct the adaptation. He later revealed that he wanted Christian Bale to play Randall Flagg and Matthew McConaughey for the role of Stu Redman. By September 10, 2014, the script had been completed and pre-production was underway. In November, Boone planned to split his adaptation into four full-length feature films.

In June 2015, Warner Bros. proposed an eight-part Showtime miniseries to set up the story, which would culminate in Boone's film. In February 2016, the project was put on hold and the rights reverted to CBS Films. In September 2017, King talked of doing an extended TV series on Showtime or Paramount+. On March 30, 2018, it was reported that CBS All Access were redeveloping the project into a ten-hour limited series with Boone still attached to serve as director.

In January 2019, a 10-hour limited series was ordered by CBS Television Studios to be broadcast on CBS All Access. The production features Stephen King's son Owen King as a producer and writer, and a new ending written by Stephen King. The episode count was reduced to nine episodes after the writing process had finished.