Chapelwaite - What We Know So Far

Few authors have dominated the bestseller lists for as long as the master of horror himself, Stephen King. With the publication of "Carrie" in 1974, the native Mainer launched a career that would include masterpiece novels like "The Shining," "IT," "The Green Mile," and "11/22/63." To date, King has penned over 60 novels and hundreds of short stories. Not only has King reigned long in the book world, but dozens of his works have also been adapted for movies and television. According to LitHub, King has had more of his works adapted for film — over 30 movies — than any other living author; Nicholas Sparks ranks second, with 11 book-to-movie adaptations.

Fans of King and his work are currently enjoying the Apple TV+ adaptation of his 2006 novel "Lisey's Story," starring Julianne Moore and Clive Owen. To further whet their appetite, another adaptation, "Chapelwaite," is on its way. Here's a look at what we know so far about the project.

Way back in 1975, Stephen King published his second novel "'Salem's Lot," set in the fictional Maine town of Jerusalem's Lot and telling the story of Ben Mears, who discovers a rather vampiric situation when he returns to the town after a long absence. King himself returned to 'Salem's Lot with the short story "Jerusalem's Lot," which was published in 1978 in the short story collection "Night Shift." This collection provided the source material for 10 movies and TV series, including the upcoming "Chapelwaite."

While the novel "'Salem's Lot" was adapted for television in 1979 and again in 1984 (and is being remade for the silver screen), the short story remained solely on the printed page until Epix announced in 2019 that it would produce a 10-episode series based on the story (via Deadline). Actual filming was scheduled to begin in March 2020, but was postponed until July 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic (via the Day). Thankfully, production experienced no other delays, and as Epix revealed in a teaser trailer for the series, "Chapelwaite" is slated to premiere on August 22.

When Epix announced "Chapelwaite" in 2019, it also announced Adrien Brody as the show's lead. Brody earned international acclaim for his leading role in Roman Polanski's 2002 film "The Pianist," and became the youngest recipient of the Academy Award for Best Actor, besting four fellow nominees who had previously won Best Actor (via Variety). In "Chapelwaite," Brody will play Captain Charles Boone, a 19th-century aristocrat who moves his three children to his family home in Preacher's Corners, Maine, after the death of his wife.

In March 2020, Epix announced that Emily Hampshire, best known for her role as Stevie on "Schitt's Creek," was cast in the lead role of Rebecca Morgan opposite Brody (via Deadline). Rebecca Morgan — an original character created specifically for the series — is described as an "ambitious young woman" and writer who returns to Preacher's Corners after college and becomes involved with the Boone family after a bout of writer's block (via Bloody Disgusting).

With the addition of Rebecca Morgan to the story, it's clear that "Chapelwaite" will deviate from its source material. In Stephen King's short story, presented in the form of letters and diary entries, Captain Boone is accompanied by his servant Calvin McCann when he returns to the family home, called Chapelwaite. Once there, the two discover that the residents of Preacher's Corners aren't very welcoming and view Chapelwaite with suspicion and fear. After a visit to the deserted town of Jerusalem's Lot, the pair are beset by a variety of supernatural occurrences, including the discovery of two ancient vampires, or nosferatu, who are also Boone's ancestors.

As for the series "Chapelwaite," Epix has kept most plot details closely guarded. The network has revealed that Rebecca Morgan, who hopes to use the Boone family as inspiration for her writing, becomes the governess to Boone's children. As Adrien Brody's Boone starts to unravel the sinister mystery of his family and home, Rebecca also confronts some of her familial secrets all while writing the next great gothic novel (via Gruesome Magazine).