Stephen King is the legendary author, the man behind some of the best Hollywood adaptations of all time. He is most popular for his work in the horror genre, but unlike other writers, King goes way beyond simply trying to scare the readers. The popular sci-fi horror series, Stranger Things, included many Easter eggs and parallels to pay tribute to the National Award-winning author. And now, the Duffer Brothers are coming up with yet another adaptation of a 1984 novel of King.  

The Talisman was a collaborated work of the King and Peter Straub, which is all set to be another Netflix original adaptation. While it is still under production, the OTT giant is streaming an adaptation of King’s semi-autobiographical novella.

Stephen King’s adaptation is now available on Netflix

Unlike the 75-year-old writer’s other horror works, Stand By Me is a beautiful drama directed by Rob Reiner. It is an adaptation of King’s novella The Body, which was a part of the collection Different Seasons. After 37 years of the movie’s release, it has finally made its way into Netflix, a platform that King loves. Somewhat similar to the 2017 adaptation It, this 1982 movie is a coming-of-the-age movie that also features a group of teenagers.

The teenagers embarked on an adventurous journey to find the body of a missing boy named Ray Brower. During their journey, the teens confront the realities of life and understand the inevitability of death. Amidst adversities, the teens find a way to connect deeply with one another and find their identities. Even though the movie received mixed reviews, the original writer was stunned by how well Reiner adapted his work. 

A similar pattern can be seen in the 2016 release, Stranger Things, featuring a group of teens on an adventure to find their missing friend. 

Similarities between Stranger Things and Stephen King’s work

The Talisman will not be the only adaptation of the King’s work by the Duffer Brothers. There is a reason why fans often draw comparisons between the Stranger Things and Stephen King’s works. The Bram Stoker Award winner is popular for using the trope of kids fighting off evil in his work. In Stranger Things, kids have been fighting with monsters from the very first season to save Hawkins. Another recurring element in King’s horror fiction is the involvement of members of law enforcement. Stranger Things fans would know how significant Jim Hopper, Chief of Police’s, contribution to the fantasy series was. 

Apart from that, the railroad tracks, psychic powers, and kids finding someone in the woods all point to The Green Mile writer’s tropes. However, the scene that made a direct reference to the legendary author was the pep talk between Bob and Will in season 2.

During the conversation, Bob shared his haunting experience with a clown called Mr. Baldo who offered him a balloon. Anyone who is remotely familiar with King’s work would know the “clown” and “balloon” reference is a direct connection to King’s iconic horror novel, It. 

Let us know if you are going to stream Stand By Me on Netflix in the comments below!