“The Shining” sequel, based on Stephen King’s bestselling follow-up novel “Doctor Sleep,” will feature Ewan McGregor as the grown-up version of Jack Nicholson’s on-screen son Danny Torrance.
The horror film picks up the story of 1980’s “The Shining” with adult Danny Torrance being haunted by the events of the original, when a young Danny was chased by his ax-wielding father through the snow.
Danny escaped with his mother Wendy, played by Shelley Duvall, but the tragedy left him with rage and a drinking problem that dulls his “shining” powers along with his pain. As Danny embraces sobriety, his powers return and he learns to help others with similar abilities, Variety reported.
The original “Shining” adaptation was considered a box office disappointment with only $44 million in sales on a $19 million budget, but posterity has given the film a reputation as a great horror classic and a fan base eager for a sequel.
The success of 2017’s King adaptation “It” also helped to renew interest in the sequel, CNET reported. Mike Flanagan, who also adapted King’s novella “Gerald’s Game” for Netflix, will direct “Doctor Sleep.”
“Doctor Sleep” will begin filming this fall and is scheduled to release in theaters in January 2020.
McGregor stars in “Christopher Robin,” a new Winnie the Pooh adaptation, due out in August.
Many Twitter fans were skeptical about doing a sequel to "The Shining" and about casting McGregor.
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