Chuckstar David Dastmalchian recently hinted at how Mike Flanagan is tackling the forthcoming adaptation of Stephen King’s The Life of Chuck. This film, inspired by King’s novella from his 2020 collection If It Bleeds, is expected to depict the life of Charles Krantz, played by Tom Hiddleston, who relives his life backward after succumbing to a brain tumor at 39. Although Dastmalchian’s role remains undisclosed, he joins a cast that includes Flanagan’s frequent collaborators such as Kate Siegel, Jacob Tremblay, Karen Gillan, and Mark Hamill.
In an interview with GamesRadar+, Dastmalchian, who is new to working with Flanagan, shared his experiences on the set of The Life of Chuck. He described the filmmaker and his regular collaborators as a “close-knit” and efficient team. The actor, whose role seems minor due to his brief stay on set, noted that viewers could anticipate Flanagan’s signature “haunting and scary” motifs, blended with a strong emotional undercurrent. He expressed his impressions:
“I had always heard about the worlds Mike would masterfully create on his sets because it is a family unit. These are people who have worked together over many years who have really strong forms of trust and communication.
“So, when I showed up for my day of working on the movie, maybe it was two days, I got there and was immediately like, ‘Oh wow, I’ve never seen something this close-knit, this incredible before.’ It’s like a circus – they just pick it up and set it up in the next place, they are all friends and have been doing this together for so long.”
“The way he [Mike Flanagan] works is so hands on and with deep love, which is really sweet when you consider how macabre his mind is, how dark the stories he tells can be. He’s just this deeply loving human being and I think Life of Chuck really explores themes that are haunting and scary, but it’s also very emotional in a way that I wasn’t expecting.”
Implications of Dastmalchian’s Insight for The Life of Chuck
This Stephen King adaptation appears to be a quintessential Flanagan venture
Unlike some directors who frequently change their cast, Flanagan often collaborates with recurring actors. For instance, he has consistently worked with Siegel, who is also his wife, on several projects like Hush (2016), The Haunting of Hill House (2018), Midnight Mass (2021), and The Fall of the House of Usher (2023). Gillan contributed to Oculus (2013), and Hamill joined The Fall of the House of Usher. As Dastmalchian points out, employing familiar collaborators fosters a positive and cohesive on-set atmosphere.
Matthew Lillard is also part of The Life of Chuck’s lineup, marking his first collaboration with Flanagan alongside Dastmalchian and Hiddleston.
Dastmalchian’s observations align well with Flanagan’s previous endeavors, as critics have often applauded his ability to blend emotionally resonant storytelling with innovative scares and haunting settings, as seen in Midnight Mass and The Haunting of Hill House. Flanagan demonstrated these same strengths in his earlier King adaptation, Doctor Sleep (2019). Based on Dastmalchian’s insights, audiences can anticipate Flanagan’s trademark elements combined with a cast of familiar faces, setting The Life of Chuck up for potential success.
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Flanagan’s works generally receive praise from both critics and audiences, highlighting how his distinctive storytelling and filmmaking techniques resonate with viewers. The Life of Chuck promises to feature the elements fans love about his projects, while King’s novella’s unique time-travel narrative suggests some interesting twists. Should The Life of Chuck successfully merge the familiar with the novel, it could emerge as a particularly thrilling adaptation of King’s work and a standout in Flanagan’s impressive filmography.
Source: GamesRadar+
The Life of Chuck
- Drama
- Fantasy
- Sci-Fi
Based on the short story written by Stephen King, The Life of Chuck is a drama/supernatural film by writer-director Mike Flanagan. Tom Hiddleston stars as the titular Charles Krantz and traverses three phases of his life, including his time spent growing up in a haunted house.
