Universal Acquires The Tommyknockers, James Wan Looking To Direct

As we previously reported, James Wan is set to produce a theatrical film adaptation of Stephen King’s 1987 novel The Tommyknockers with Roy Lee (who also produced IT). Now Deadline reports that Universal has won a bidding war for the film. It also notes that Wan is now looking to possibly direct the feature. Universal outbid both Sony and Netflix for the distribution rights.

Wan has not been confirmed as director yet, but he will produce with Atomic Monster, Michael Clear and Jon Berg, as well as Larry Sanitsky, who executive produced the 1993 miniseries of the same name.

Here’s a synopsis: The story focuses on a town in Maine that falls under the influence of a dangerous gas from an unearthed space craft. The gas begins to transform the people, giving them enhanced abilities, but also making them violent and subject to an alien hive mentality. One man, thanks to a steel plate in his head, is immune to the effects and tries to stop the townspeople.