Big Driver adapted for Lifetime

willowlove

So says TV Line, anyway.

Lifetime Adapting Stephen King Novella Big Driver; Maria Bello and Joan Jett to Star

By Michael Ausiello /
June 24 2014, 10:30 AM PDT

Maria Bello (Prime Suspect, Touch)  is getting behind the wheel of Big Driver, a Lifetime movie based on Stephen King’s horror novella, TVLine has learned.

Oscar winner Olympia Dukakis, rock icon Joan Jett and NCIS guest star Will Harris have also been cast in the project, which marks the first collaboration between King and Lifetime.

Big Driver, which was featured in King’s collection Full Dark, No Stars,
centers on Bello’s Tess Thorne (Bello), a famous and revered mystery
and thriller writer who faces a long drive home following a book signing
engagement. While driving on a lonely stretch of New England road, her
tire blows out, leaving her stranded. Relieved when another driver
(Harris) stops and offers assistance, Tess quickly discovers her savior
is actually her assailant, a serial killer who repeatedly assaults
her. Left for dead in a drainage pipe to rot with the bodies of his
other victims, Tess escapes and makes her way safely home. With her
fragile mind beginning to unravel, she is determined to find her rapist
and seek revenge, as payback is the only thing holding her together.

Richard Christian Matheson (Masters of Horror, Happy Face Killer) is penning the adaptation and Mikael Salomon (Drew Peterson: Untouchable) is directing.

http://tvline.com/2014/06/24/big-driver-stephen-king-lifetime-movie-maria-bello/

BevVincent

Apparently this is filming outside of Halifax, near where they shoot Haven. Cameras are ready to roll within a week or two.

BevVincent

Actress Ann Dowd is becoming omnipresent on our television screens, adding a role in Lifetime’s upcoming telepic, “Big Driver,” to a resume that has recently included “True Detective,” “Masters of Sex” and HBO’s new series “The Leftovers.”

Variety has exclusively learned that Dowd will appear opposite star Maria Bello as Ramona, an event planner, in the adaptation of Stephen King’s novella.

“Big Driver” revolves around a famous mystery writer, played by Bello, who is left devastated after a brutal attack and sets out on a quest for revenge. Olympia Dukakis, Joan Jett and Will Harris also star.

Dowd can next be seen in “The Leftovers,” which premieres June 29 on HBO.

Produced by Ostar Productions, “Big Driver” is executive produced by Bill Haber and Jeffrey Hayes. The adaptation, penned by Richard Christian Matheson, will be directed by Mikael Salomon. The pic is targeting a fall premiere.

BevVincent

It will premiere on Lifetime on Saturday, October 18 at 8pm ET/PT

>>> Source

Lou_Sytsma

Excellent!  Another King treat this fall.  Been a great year.

BevVincent

Teaser video

BevVincent

BevVincent

I saw a screener of this today -- it's very faithful to the novella, which means the first half hour is brutal. 

The book club scenes were filmed on the Dalhousie University campus. I recognize several of the buildings.

A few things are shifted around and some scenes are tightened up, but the novella is all in there, more or less. Joan Jett is not terrible as the Stagger Inn bartender. Olympia Dukakis is wryly funny as the personification of one of Tess's characters. Tom the GPS is there, too, plus all the other people (and the cat) who Tess talks to and who talk back to her.

Lou_Sytsma

Excellent! Hans got a screener too and his thoughts echo yours.