Eli Roth almost directed a major Stephen King flop: The Mouth of the Wolf
In the realm of horror, few directors are as synonymous with terror as Stephen King. The master of horror has seen his fair share of adaptations, with some being more successful than others. In the early 1990s, King’s novel "The Tommyknockers" was slated to become a major film adaptation, but it was almost directed by none other than Eli Roth, the creator of gruesome classics like "Cabin Fever" and "Hostel".
Released in 1987, "The Tommyknockers" follows an alien spacecraft that crash-lands in a small town, releasing a blast of strange, otherworldly energy that begins to alter the lives of the townspeople. The novel was met with a lukewarm reception from critics and audiences alike, and it’s easy to see why. The story meanders, struggling to find a cohesive pace, and the characters are often one-dimensional and forgettable.
King and Roth were set to work together to bring this tale to the big screen, with Roth slated to direct and co-write the screenplay. This could have been a disastrous match, given Roth’s reputation for graphic violence and gore, which might not have been the best fit for King’s more atmospheric, suspense-driven horror.
Fortunately, the project never came to fruition. It’s unclear why the collaboration ultimately fell apart, but it’s likely that King and Roth’s differing visions led to the project’s demise. King has a long history of success on his own, with projects like "Carrie" and "The Shawshank Redemption" under his belt, while Roth has built a reputation on his mean-spirited, in-your-face approach to horror.
While "The Tommyknollers" never made it to the silver screen with Roth at the helm, the novel remains a fascinating, if flawed, entry in King’s extensive bibliography. With a clearer, more streamlined storyline and more well-crafted characters, it’s easy to imagine a successful film adaptation. Alas, this remains a "what if" scenario, a glorified "almost", so securely locked in the realm of speculative fiction.
