With CBS All Access currently developing a new ten-episode take on Stephen King’s The Stand, the series has found two of its lead characters.
Courtesy of Collider, Big Little Lies’ Alexander Skarsgard and Ghost’s Whoopi Goldberg have joined The Stand as Randall Flagg and Mother Abigail, respectively. Randall is the ‘big bad’ of the tale, while Abigail is a 108-year-old prophet who receives messages from God.
Skarsgard and Goldberg join a cast that currently features Westworld’s James Marsden as lead character Stu Redman, Aquaman’s Amber Heard as Nadine Cross, Assassination Nation’s Odessa Young as traveller Frannie Goldsmith, and The New Mutants’ Henry Zaga as deaf-mute Nick Andros.
The early word on this latest adaptation of The Stand reads:
The series will bring to life King’s vision of a world decimated by plague and embroiled in an elemental struggle between good and evil. The fate of mankind rests on the frail shoulders of the 108-year-old Mother Abagail and a handful of survivors. Their worst nightmares are embodied in a man with a lethal smile and unspeakable powers: Randall Flagg, the Dark Man.
The Fault in Our Stars’ Josh Boone and SEAL Team’s Ben Cavell are on writing duties for the ten-episode take on King’s 1978 novel.
The Stand, of course, was previously given the TV treatment back in 1994. Then, Mick Garris helmed a miniseries that clocked in at just over the six-hour mark in total, with names such as Gary Sinise, Molly Ringwald, Rob Lowe, Miguel Ferrer, and Ossie Davis starring.
For those not familiar with the written world of The Stand, the loose plot centres on a decimated post-apocalyptic world in which a deadly plague has wiped out a huge chunk of the population. Two rival groups form, with the vastly differing views of the leaders of these groups putting both sides on a collision course as good battles evil.
Expect more on The Stand as it continues to develop.