John Cusack Set To Lead Stephen King’s CELL

The storm has passed and the mad dash through the neighborhood in pursuit of Snickers and Skittles is tonight. Many kids will be missing out on tonight's Trick or Treating, but the show must go on.  And, John Cusack is getting back into the Stephen King business, signing to star in an adaptation of Cell, King's take on the zombie apocalypse genre. King himself co-wrote the screenplay with The Last House On The Left screenwriter Adam Alleca in a story where cell phone signals wipe the brain of any humanity, turning people into aggressive killers and a father who hits the road to find his wife and son. The 1408 star Cusack will also reteam with 1408 executive Richard Saperstein who will produce Cell through his Genre Company alongside colleagues Brian Witten and Shara Kay. They are currently looking for directors. Saperstein said:

I'm thrilled to be working with Stephen and John again. Cell is an intelligent psychological thriller that delivers on both a visceral and emotional level.

Cargo CEO Marina Grasic added:

Stephen King is a legendary storyteller and the master at this genre. We believe the reteaming of King with Cusack is a winning combination that audiences around the world will want to see.

Cargo Entertainment arranged financing on Cell. Before filming Cell, Cusack will star in Due Process, which is yet another thriller set in the world of finance, set to begin filming in January 2013. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgLm4_fq6GY[/youtube] The Cell novel is described as follows:

Artist Clayton Riddell had been in Boston negotiating a successful deal to sell his comic book project. His joy at finally hitting it big is shattered by an event called The Pulse which causes all those who were using their cell phones at the time of The Pulse to become zombies attacking and killing anyone in their way. Fortunately for Clay, he does not own a cell phone. In the panic to get out of Boston and find his way home to his wife and son in Maine, he is joined by Tom McCourt, a man he meets in the meleé immediately following The Pulse and a young girl, Alice, who they rescue from being killed by one of the “crazies.” The story follows their terrifying journey, avoiding capture—and worse—by the “crazies” who are beginning to “flock” and are led by one they call Raggedy Man as they attempt to reach Maine and a place called Kashwak which they hope will be their salvation.

Source: Screen Daily