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In one of Showtime’s most ambitious undertakings, the pay cable network is partnering with Steven Spielberg and Stephen King for Under the Dome, a drama series based on King’s 2009 novel, which will be produced by DreamWorks Television. The supernatural thriller revolves around locals at a Maine vacation spot who battle one another when a force field suddenly surrounds their town and cuts them off from the rest of the world. DreamWorks’ Spielberg and Stacey Snider nabbed the rights to King’s novel shortly after it was published in November 2009 to strong reviews. Search is underway for a writer to write the project, whose executive producers will include King and DreamWorks TV’s Justin Falvey and Darryl Frank. Spielberg has a longstanding relationship with King. 
He previously teamed with the bestselling author to adapt his 1984 novel The Talisman, which was originally developed as feature and then as a miniseries that was once set up at TNT.
This marks a return to genre series for Showtime, which took a break following the 2003 dramedy Dead Like Me, and the network’s latest collaboration with DreamWorks TV. The production company’s dark comedy United States of Tara ran on the pay cable network for 3 seasons and its costume drama The Borgias is now in production on Season 2. Elsewhere, DreamWorks’ new TNT series Falling Skies was recently renewed for a second season. The WME-repped company has 3 new broadcast series launching this coming season: NBC’s Smash, which was originally developed at Showtime, Fox’s Terra Nova and ABC’s The River.
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almost at the point where spielberg’s name on a project is meaningless…almost…
I was thinking the same thing. What does Steven Spielberg actually DO for these projects? Does his name bring in investors? Does he actively get involved? I see a lot of Sci Fi stuff that has his name attached to it and they are awful (Falling Skies, Taken (the TV Series)) and others that just ride off his name.
I’m not blaming the guy. He’s made his name into a brand, but I’m curious as to what role he plays and what it means for getting a project greenlit.
I loved the TAKEN miniseries, personally. It was the ROOTS of UFOlogy!
Steven Spielberg came up for the idea of Falling Skies
Falling Skies is dull and Noah Wylie has as much charisma as a wet piece of cardboard lying under a rock.
I love Fallimg Skies!!!
Let someone new with TALENT have the studio’s backing! I’m sick of the over-hyped old junk these two fossils make more millions on!
The Simpsons Movie did it first.
Nope. King had the idea a loooonnnggg time ago. It was named “cannibals”. ANyway, just to let you know..even though I highly suspect that the comment was one for just the entertainment value. JOhn Goodman…hell yeah, not only does he physically fit the character..but the guy has some serious acting chops.
Goodman has lost a considerabl amount of weight and looks like a different man. But , he could still pull it off.
IF THEY DON’T GET JOHN GOODMAN FOR THIS….then it’ll be fucking useless.
………why?
Because he was born to play Big Jim.
Because one of the characters was absolutely made for him.
I love the book and hadn’t even thought of casting, but this is genius! He’d be perfect and Big Jim is one of the best villains I’ve read in sometime. I hope he gets it!
This is truly exciting news and earlier I had heard that Carlton Cuse was in talks to help write this as a showrunner. Here’s hoping it actually happens unlike so many King projects (e.g. The Dark Tower) that fizzle out. Under the Dome is one of my favorite King books, and save the ending it is nearly flawless, which if you are a King fan is nothing new.
I know I did not like the way it ended but I loved the book. I would have loved to see Big Jim get punched in the face.
Memo to the casting dept. –
Brad Leland of Friday Night Lights for the role of “Big Jim” Rennie. There is no substitute.
Who?
Stop embarrassing yourself, Brad.
If he could pull off the accent, then one mr. buddy garison would be killer as well!
Garrity, not garison.
Kings newer works aren’t worth a shit compared to his old stuff. As for Showtime…The Tudors was complete and utter dreck.
Somewhat true, but “Under the Dome” was really good, holds up well to his older stuff. And it’s topical! Look out your window – see that haze?
Quite possibly the worst of his newer books. I bought the book, hoping a return to form having read some of his earlier works, plus some of his short stories. I kept hoping it would get better, and was sorely disappointed
Chemtrailed skies and apple pies?
I think King basically ripped off Jericho in this book.
Chem-trailed Skies
&
apple pies.
Spielberg’s involvement doesn’t matter much. The good news is that “Under the Dome” is receiving the series treatment. Hopefully a good showrunner will keep it from being bloated and draggy.
And by giving it a better ending than the book’s.
There was absolutely nothing wrong with the ending to Under the Dome.
Other than the fact that the ending is completely unfilmable.
Nothing wrong? An alien child is screwing with us, like a little boy using a magnifying glass to burn ants? Come on, it was an incredibly lame ending. 90% of the story is about the disintegration of a small town due to utter chaos and civil disorder; the dome is only a small part of it. But trying to get a continuing series out of it will be horrifically padded. A 3-hour made-for-TV movie… maybe. A 12-episode series? Come on.
I agree. I can see a 3 part mini-series, each part being 2 hours but if it is more than 3 episodes, it will die a slow death of mediocrity. As for the ending, totally stolen from a Twilight Zone episode.
Exactly right. UNDER THE DOME is actually one of the best latter-day Stephen King creations, with great characters and wonderful internecine conflicts … but our man in Maine clearly just threw up his hands when confronted with the question of “how to explain it all in the end.”
Frank Darabont has converted 3 King stories into fantastic films to date. Luck would have it that he is now available.
Call him, now.
A break from genre shows? Did someone forget about Dexter?
Unfortunaterly, Spielberg’s name already means nothing. In the name of greed,he’s let Falvey and Frank build their entire career on his name…talk about having their own agenda.And all this time? Not one television hit? Says something doesn’t it…Wake up Spielberg…you haven’t had a hit in television in a long time and with that talent, you should be embarassed.You belong on the big screen… And King has already jumped the shark. This seems like a replay of Ron Howard’s desperation.
Falling Skies is a reasonable hit on TNT.
It is boring. They should just bring back Jericho…….Under the Dome is practically a rip-off of that show and I found the government subplot more intriguing on Jericho.
Stephanie, I love your post but have to ask, did Frank and Falvey pass on one of your projects or something? Who the fuck are you to call out these guys like this? Seems personal to me… I don’t know them but it seems to me that Mr. Spielberg is a very smart and talented filmmaker – and has built a very formidable career. In fact, he’s certainly one of the greatest filmmakers of our generation. So, one has to ask, if Frank and Falvey haven’t been pulling their weight, or doing an acceptable job, why would he keep them around for so long? Maybe, just maybe, he understands the business better than you, and realizes that they have kept him in the TV game every year they’ve been there. Yes, Frank and Falvey have built their career there, under the partnership and appreciation of an icon in our business. Tell you what, when you have a resume with the success and fortune that Mr. Spielberg has, then you can hire who you want for your television division… let me know and I’ll be sure to send my resume.
King and Spielberg go way back, BEFORE “The Talisman.” Spielberg originally approached Stephen King to write/develop what turned out to be POLTERGEIST — a haunted house story. They both worked differently, so they parted amicably but remained friends.
Spielberg went on to write/produce POLTERGEIST and King’s haunted house story eventually became ROSE RED.
Don’t exactly know why, but this concept of a dome reminds me of the Truman Show premise. It’s an interesting combination, the Stev/phens.I think Spielberg could tie together loose ends with the ending, as he’s great with story structure.
Is the Talisman ever going to happen???
And stop the hate. King and Speilberg have enough juice to get your mom’s life story made. And I’d actually pay to see it.
Steven Spielberg didn’t create Falling Skies. H.G. Wells did with War of the Worlds. Independence Day was just War or the Worlds with one liners.
I love Steven Spielberg, although his entire career is based on the phrase “Disney does..”
i.e. “Disney does Casablanca” (his own words) equals Raiders of the Lost Ark.
He was doing Disney type films when Disney were lost and wondering what kind of films they should be making.
He’s still the best film maker out there.
Steven Spielberg’s imitating Walt Disney and JJ Abrams and everyone else is imitating Spielberg. Who says there’s no originality left in Hollywood.
How does SHYTE like Falling Skies get a second season and Jericho which is an awesome show and is basically ‘The Dome in Kansas’ not get renewed???? What kind of an assbackwards esrevinU do we live in?
I hope this is just a mini-series and not episodic or it will be watered down and butchered. They should hire the Jericho writers and half the cast…….heck, just renew Jericho.
Are you crazy? Under the Dome and Jericho are two totally different things. One has nothing to do with the other. How many of you even read Under the Dome?
The man in black fled across the desert and the gunslinger followed.
enough said!
^^^^^^^^^^Applause sounded and the Horn of Jericho is blown.
Under the dome was a great book… as long as you ignore the last chapter. I’d check out a series about it.
hell I’m still working on the last of the gunslinger books
I couldn’t get into it. The first few chapters were a snore fest and I didn’t have the will power to slog through it.
I have to admit that Roland and his ka-tet are not for everyone, but once you get transported into the story it is a F’in cool quest.
And kudos to Jude. Let the horn blow. Long days and pleasant nights to you and your ka-tet.
John Goodman as Big Jim. He can pull it off. I hope the series is as good as the book was.
There’s a reason “jumping the shark” works for TV series and not authors. You clearly know less about the film industry than you do about the pattern on your couch cushions and the well-worn patina of your remote control. I’m sure l all the extraordinarily talented, powerful and successful people you’ve called out in your inane post will be lining up to hear your opinions on their wasted careers.
Pretty sure that it means he often puts more money than you can dream of seeing in your lifetime behind films, and now has the capability to support and fund what new talent himself. Pretty much because he has earned the right in his industry to be the bad-ass making the decisions. I’m guessing you aren’t even fully aware of his list of producing credits for the last several years, which include a wide range of great projects covering many genres. He IS the studio, not the guy the studio backs. Go ahead- take a few secs on imdb or even wikipedia to educate yourselves and then try again.
Who will be cast to portray Big Jim Rennie in the Under the Dome mini series on Showtime? My vote for Gary Busey for Big Jim Rennie!
Personally, The whole time reading this novel. I pictured J.T. Walsh’s image as Big Jim. But John Goodman is also a great choice!