In the UK, James Herbert is as well known as Stephen King is in the US so it is exciting to see that a live-action adaptation of his hit novel ‘Shrine’ is making its way to the big screen. Even more exciting is that the work is being produced by Sam Raimi and Rob Tapert under their Ghost House banner with Evan Spiliotopoulos (‘Beauty and the Beast’,’The Huntsman: Winter’s War‘) already tapped to direct. Spiliotopoulos has quite a few writing credits under his belt though this will be his debut at directing, so it is great to have both Raimi and Tapert in his corner to bring this novel to life.
Herbert himself sadly passed away in 2013 and has a legacy of his novels selling over 54 million copies worldwide. King himself has sung the author’s praises in the past stating this his “books were best sellers because many readers (including me) were too horrified to put them down.”
If you aren’t familiar with the book ‘Shrine,’ here’s the synopsis:
In James Herbert’s Shrine, innocence and evil have become one . . .
A little girl called Alice. A deaf-mute. A vision. A lady in shimmering white who says she is the immaculate conception. And Alice can suddenly hear and speak, and she can perform miracles. Soon the site of the visitation, beneath an ancient oak tree, has become a shrine, a holy place for thousands of pilgrims. But Alice is no longer the guileless child overwhelmed by her new saintliness. She has become the agent of something corrupt, a vile force that is centuries old. Innocence and evil have become one.
There is nothing quite like having an ancient evil preparing to unleash itself upon the innocent.
Are you looking forward to a live-action adaptation of ‘Shrine’? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Source: Deadline Hollywood
