AMC has announced a deal with Stephen King and his son Owen to bring their 2017 bestselling novel Sleeping Beauties to the small screen. Owen King is set to write the script and aims to create an open-ended TV show so that if there is a great reception to the pilot they can continue to produce the show.

The story of the novel takes place in the near future in a small town in the Eastern Regions of America, Appalachia. It, of course, contains the usual King flair of thrills and scares but ultimately covers a timely symbolic story about what would happen if men were left alone in the world whilst women sleep. The titular ‘Sleeping Beauties’ are the women of Appalachia who, when they go to sleep, become cloaked in a cocoon. If the cocoon is broken, the women become feral.

Executive producers, Sugar23’s Michael Sugar and Ashley Zalta recently spoke to deadline.com and stated: “Owen and Stephen King found the perfect canvas to tell a haunting and gripping story that sparks a relevant conversation about gender equality and individuality. We couldn’t be more excited about this collaboration with the Kings and with AMC, who have so often boldly redefined genres.”

Stephen King was also quoted in voicing his pleasure at working with Sugar23 and AMC on the project claiming that “I’m tremendously excited to see Sleeping Beauties brought to life in a format the will allow the story to be told as it was meant to be told, in all its mystery and drama.”

More information on Sleeping Beauties TV adaptation as it develops.