THE OUTSIDER May Be King's Best Cinematic Adaptation, and Here's Why

That's a hefty and ambitious claim. After all, we've seen (and we'll be seeing even more soon) quite a few of those adaptations already: IT, PET SEMATARY, soon we'll be seeing 'SALEM'S LOT, there was GERALD'S GAME on Netflix, 11/22/63 on Hulu, the UNDER THE DOME series. The list goes on and on -- a veritable best hits of the master of horror for years and years akin to some of the most genre-focused works he's ever done.

But the Claim Is Clear: THE OUTSIDER May Rank as the Very Best

But why?

Let's not even consider that HBO will be the platform, still fresh off the fire of a little show called Game of Thrones. Forget the fact that we even have something like CASTLE ROCK still going strong on Hulu and MR. MERCEDES knocking on your door as well. But if this synopsis of what THE OUTSIDER is all about doesn't get you, we don't know what will:

An unspeakable crime. A confounding investigation. At a time when the King brand has never been stronger, he has delivered one of his most unsettling and compulsively readable stories. An eleven-year-old boy's violated corpse is found in a town park. Eyewitnesses and fingerprints point unmistakably to one of Flint City's most popular citizens. He is Terry Maitland, Little League coach, English teacher, husband, and father of two girls. Detective Ralph Anderson, whose son Maitland once coached, orders a quick and very public arrest. Maitland has an alibi, but Anderson and the district attorney soon add DNA evidence to go with the fingerprints and witnesses. Their case seems ironclad. As the investigation expands and horrifying answers begin to emerge, King's propulsive story kicks into high gear, generating strong tension and almost unbearable suspense. Terry Maitland seems like a nice guy, but is he wearing another face? When the answer comes, it will shock you as only Stephen King can.

Pretty Gripping, We'd Say -- and If You Read the Novel, You'd Agree -- But Here's the REAL Reason This Will Be the Best Adaptation Ever

The real reason is Stephen King himself:

"THE OUTSIDER is one of the best adaptations of my work. Hope you'll watch it."

That's definitive. Just being one of the best may herald it as the best. We shall see. It is, after all, HBO and King joining forces. Expect to see THE OUTSIDER mystery thriller miniseries to premiere on the Home Box Office on January 12, 2020.

What Is Stephen King's "Lisey's Story," and Why Should We Care?

These days all we talk about are the Pet Semataries and Its climbing the walls left and right and how we're terrified of all the supernatural things that go bump in the night deep in the recesses of King's mind. Heck, many of you probably know that 'SALEM'S LOT will be re-adapted into theaters (which we're quite anxious and giddy about), not to mention we're still reeling and fresh off the heels of Pennywise's ultimate demise.

Yet We Seem to Forget That Stephen King Has Other Adaptations Coming

And they're doozies. One in particular will keep you busy for a while: LISEY'S STORY.

If you're an avid fan of King, you most likely would have heard of this novel. A real nail-biter, feverish in fear. What some might not know -- unless you have a subscription to Apple TV -- is that director Pablo Larrain will be launching a wickedly complete limited series based on the novel -- with quite the all-star cast.

For those who don't know what LISEY'S STORY is all about, here's the skinny:

Lisey lost her husband Scott two years ago, after a twenty-five year marriage of profound and sometimes frightening intimacy. Scott was an award-winning, bestselling novelist and a very complicated man. Early in their relationship, before they married, Lisey knew there was a place Scott went -- a place that both terrified and healed him, could eat him alive or give him the ideas he needed in order to live. Now it's Lisey's turn to face Scott's demons, to go that terrifying place known as Boo'ya Moon. What begins as a widow's effort to sort through the papers of her celebrated husband becomes a nearly fatal journey into the darkness he inhabited.

Sounds like an epic ripe for a miniseries.

The Apple TV Limited Series Will Feature Julianne Moore and More

In fact, Moore will play the pivotal role of Lisey, but she's not without her stellar counterparts. Also slated to serve in terror are Clive Owen as husband Scott, Joan Allen as Lisey's sister Amanda, Dane DeHaan as Jim Dooley, and a familiar Fast and the Furious actor known as Sung Kang, playing the officer Dan Beckman assigned to watch Lisey's house.

Even better is King himself has written the script based on his own novel. And even better is THE RISE OF SKYWALKER phenom J.J. Abrams will be producing the miniseries along with Ben Stephenson.

You can actually catch the miniseries on Apple TV right now.