The last we heard about the adaptation of Stephen King’s novel “Cell” was over a year ago, when John Cusack was attached to star. For a while there, as the film’s producers searched for a director, it seemed that Cusack would be left hanging. Now, it’s been confirmed that Samuel L. Jackson has joined the cast and Tod “Kip” Williams (“Paranormal Activity 2”) is set to direct the film.
“Cell” follows an artist struggling to reunite with his son after a mysterious cell phone signal from a global network turns humans into vicious, aggressive killers. While Cusack is set to play the lead character, Clay Riddell, Samuel L. Jackson has signed on to play Tom McCourt, a former soldier who’s escaped from Boston along with Clay. Stephen King wrote the screenplay to “Cell” alongside Adam Alleca (“Last House on the Left”). And as horror fans likely already know, this the second King joint for Cusack and Jackson, with the pair previously teaming up for 2007’s “1408.”
The project is expected to begin production in January and right now it’s being presented at the American Film Market to attract potential buyers. With Cusack, Jackson, and Stephen King being involved, it should have no problem getting attention. [Variety]
Lets hope that director Williams has more up his sleeve than what he showed with Paranormal Activity 2, which btw is a series that doesnt need a director to tell its lame and unscary non-storys.