Tuesday, August 09, 2016

Sebastian Has Always Lived in the Castle

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THR is reporting that a movie is being made out of Shirley Jackson's wonderfully macabre 1962 horror novella We Have Always Lived in the Castle, and Sebastian Stan has signed on to star. I'm shocked a movie's never been made from this story before honestly, but then I'm shocked Shirley Jackson's entire output hasn't been - she was a pretty cinematic writer. Any fans of this book? At 146 pages it's a breeze of a read, I recommend it. 

And now my brain turns to casting the other roles. The story's about a poisonous (literally) family all holed up in a mansion when a distant cousin (the role Stan will play) comes to visit slash get his paws on their fortune. It's been awhile since I've read it but my recollection is that one of the sisters, the one named Merricat, is the meatiest role, but maybe I just liked her the best? Anyway role-wise besides Stan there are two sisters and an uncle total, as I recall. 

The film is being written and directed by Stacie Passon, who made the film well-received lesbian film Concussion with Robin Weigart a couple of years ago, which is also making me think the film will lean more female-centric than the THR piece lets on. I guess we'll just need to wait and see who else is cast.


3 comments:

Laramie Dean said...

That is one of my favorite books in the WORLD by my favorite author -- very exciting news. Let's hope they don't bollocks it up like a certain director -- we'll call him Schman De Schmont -- ruined THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE in 1999. (I'm also a big fan of your blog, by the by -- been following it daily for years. Lurked until now. Nothing like Shirley Jackson news to draw me out of hiding!)

Anonymous said...

I thought the sisters were the major characters in the book? I hope they don't reduce the female roles to beef up the male one. It's not like men need more lead roles.

Pierce said...

I read the script for this some time ago. I would love to have done it, but I couldn't cast it. It's a terrific story. The play lasted a week on Broadway, but the little girl was played by Heather Menzies, right after she did The Sound of Music.