The ‘Shining’ Sequel: Ewan McGregor Will Play The Adult Danny Torrance

When Stanley Kubrick‘s adaptation of Stephen King‘s “The Shining” was released back in 1980 not only were critics lukewarm towards it, but King himself was vocal about his dislike of the film. And in the year’s since, he has continued to not be a fan,  calling it a “big beautiful Cadillac with no engine.” Regardless, King, clearly in the minority with this opinion, believed the source material deserved better than what Kubrick gave it. In 2013, he decided to write a sequel to his original novel titled “Doctor Sleep,” and as Hollywood is keen on doing (especially after the huge box office success of the recent “It” adaptation), the ‘Shining’ sequel is making its way to the big screen.

Variety is reporting that King has given his blessing for Ewan McGregor to visit the Overlook Hotel in an upcoming film adaptation of “Doctor Sleep.” McGregor will star as an adult Danny Torrance. Torrance, if you remember, was the child that kept uttering “REDRUM” and had his psychotic dad chasing him all over with an ax. Again, according to Variety, McGregor supposedly nabbed the role over such high-profile talent as Chris Evans, Matt Smith, and Jeremy Renner.

The film, a Warner Bros.’ production, will also have director Mike Flanagan (“Hush,” “Oculus,” and “Ouija: Origin of Evil“) helming the project. Flanagan is no stranger to King having adapted the author’s novel “Gerald’s Game“ for Netflix. The screenplay for “Doctor Sleep” had been originally written by Akiva Goldsman (“A Beautiful Mind“), but Variety says Flanagan has rewritten most of it.

If Flanagan follows the novel’s plot, then “Doctor Sleep” will pick up decades after the tragic events of “The Shining,” with Torrance, now an alcoholic with anger issues, attempting to sober up and consequently having his psychic powers returning. He decides to use his special abilities to help terminally ill patients in a hospice, where he inherits the nickname of Doctor Sleep. But it’s his obsession with a particular patient, a little girl with special powers herself, that kicks off the plot.

It will obviously be nothing like “The Shining,” and we’re okay with that. Flanagan has shown some great promise in his short but successful career and King, well, he’s probably just happy Kubrick has nothing to do with his novel this time around.