Overview of “Abraham’s Boys”Adaptation
- Stephen King lauds Joe Hill’s “Abraham’s Boys”adaptation as a “creepfest.”
- The film, produced by RLJE Films and Shudder, stars Titus Welliver, known for his role in Bosch.
Stephen King, a prolific voice in horror literature and cinema, frequently shares his insights on films and television series through his social media platforms. His latest commendation is aimed at the film adaptation of his son Joe Hill’s short story, “Abraham’s Boys.”
On his Threads account, King shared his enthusiasm for the upcoming movie, labeling it as a “creepfest”and hinting that it will soon be available for viewing on Shudder. This adaptation, rooted in Hill’s narrative published in 2007, has already garnered considerable buzz.
According to a report by Variety on April 2nd, 2025, Shudder and RLJE Films have secured worldwide rights for the film, featuring prominent actor Titus Welliver of Bosch fame. The cast also includes rising talents like Brady Hepner, Aurora Perrineau, Judah Mackey, and Jocelin Donahue. The film is under the direction of Natasha Kermani, recognized for her work in horror, including “Lucky”(2020) and the segment “TKNOGD”from the found footage anthology “V/H/S/85.”
The narrative centers on Rudy and Max Van Helsing, the sons of the legendary vampire hunter Abraham Van Helsing, who is intertwined with Dracula’s story. This film will add depth to the lore established in previous adaptations, including the 2013 film “Horns,”which starred Daniel Radcliffe.
Stephen King has previously collaborated with both Joe and his other son, Owen King, in various literary projects. The trio co-created the short story “In The Tall Grass,”which appeared in Esquire and was later adapted into a Netflix film released in 2019. Additionally, King and Owen co-authored the novel Sleeping Beauties in 2017. Owen King’s literary contributions include novels like “Double Feature”and “The Curator,”released in 2013 and 2023, respectively.
Stephen King has taken to social media to endorse a variety of horror-themed shows and films recently, touching on titles such as the intriguing Noah Wyle-led medical drama “The Pitt”and the unsettling robot thriller “Companion.”Although King often praises Hill’s artistic endeavors, Hill himself has expressed reflections on growing up in the shadow of his father’s legacy. In an interview with Writer’s Digest, he articulated his initial hesitation about revealing his father’s identity:
“I needed to feel like I was succeeding on my own merits, not because my dad was someone famous. I’m a little bit more secure now, and in many ways NOS4R2 has a lot of joking references to Stephen King novels in it. In some ways, NOS4R2 is a book about Stephen King novels.”
As anticipation builds for the release of “Abraham’s Boys”on Shudder, fans of King’s work have much to look forward to. Notable upcoming adaptations include a Netflix remake of the chilling story “Cujo,”alongside Mike Flanagan’s adaptation of “The Life of Chuck,”set to premiere on June 6th, 2025. Following that, audiences can expect the theatrical release of the apocalyptic tale “The Long Walk”on September 12th, 2025.
Sources: Threads.com/@stephenking, Variety.com