A new Joe Hill adaptation is headed to the big screen as The Hollywood Reporter brings word that Universal Pictures is developing a feature film based on the author’s new novella, Snapshot 1988. According to the trade, Mike Flanagan and Jeff Howard (who have previously teamed to script Oculus, Before I Wake and the upcoming Ouija: Origin of Evil) are in talks to provide the screenplay.
Set in the titular year, Snapshot 1988 follows a 13-year-old boy who begins taking care of an elderly woman that he thinks is suffering from dementia. In reality, the woman’s memories are actually being stolen by a supernatural foe called The Phoenician.
Snapshot 1988 is set to be published in next month’s issue of Cemetery Dance.
The adaptation will be produced by Akiva Goldsman through his Weed Road banner with Jason Blum producing through Blumhouse. Greg Lessans is attached to executive produce.
Joe Hill, who has made a name for himself as an author of short stories, novels and comic books, is also the son of Stephen King. Hill’s work previously made it to the big screen with Alexandre Aja’s loose adaptation of Hill’s novel Horns. Hill’s comic book series Locke and Key nearly made it to television a few years back. A pilot was filmed for a FOX series with Mark Romanek directing. The pilot even had an official screening at Comic-Con International in 2011, but the show did not end up moving forward.
It is not mentioned whether or not Mike Flanagan might also be a potential directing candidate for Snapshot 1988. In addition to co-writing with Howard, Flanagan directed Oculus, Before I Wake and next month’s Ouija: Origin of Evil. Look for the latter to hit theaters on October 21.
