After 25 Years, Stephen King’s Fan-Favorite Novel Finally Hits the Big Screen!

Having penned the screenplay for the cinematic adaptation of Stephen King’s novel “The Long Walk,” directed by Francis Lawrence and set to premiere on October 1st, J.T. Mollner is now slated to write and direct another work by the famed American author: “The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon.”

Published in 1999, this psychological thriller follows Trisha, a nine-year-old girl who gets lost in the vast forests of Maine, armed only with her walkman, some food, and her imagination. Her only comfort: listening to baseball games and thinking about her hero, pitcher Tom Gordon. What follows is a long wandering through the forest, intertwined with challenges that serve as a rite of passage. But perhaps nature isn’t the only thing to be afraid of…

Psychological Horror

“The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon” stands out in Stephen King’s body of work. It moves away from visceral horror to explore a more intimate and realistic fear, focused on the psychology of its young heroine.

Far from monstrous creatures or supernatural forces, the novel immerses the reader in the terror of a child lost in the woods, battling loneliness, hunger, fear, and her own thoughts. It is more a survival story, where the line between imagination and reality gradually blurs.

George A. Romero’s Early Involvement

In 2000, George A. Romero had written a script for the novel, which he wanted to direct himself. He even considered Dakota Fanning for the role of Trisha, but the project was shelved due to funding issues.

In August 2019, the project was revived by Village Roadshow Pictures, with producers including Christine Romero (widow of Romero, who passed away in 2017), Roy Lee (producer of “It”), Jon Berg, and Ryan Silbert. In 2020, they even appointed Lynne Ramsay as director, but the project stalled.

Choosing J.T. Mollner

Erin Westerman, president of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, explained in a statement why she chose J.T. Mollner for this adaptation, noting his excellent thriller “Strange Darling”: “JT is a filmmaker we believe has a bright future. Throughout his work, he creates characters — especially young ones — that are so compelling, heartbreaking, and moving that they jump off the screen. And that’s what Stephen King does on paper.

The story of survival and perseverance in ‘The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon’ is timeless. This tale, which we have cherished for a long time, finds in JT the ideal director to adapt one of Stephen King’s most beloved novels.”

No release date has been announced yet. Meanwhile, fans of Stephen King can look forward to the adaptation of “The Long Walk” in theaters starting October 1st, as well as the series “It: Welcome to Derry,” a prequel to the iconic film, coming to HBO Max in October. A new adaptation of “The Running Man” starring Glen Powell in the lead role is also set to release on November 5th.