Series Review: "The Stand" (2020).

"Choose your side. Take your stand" in The Stand. This dark fantasy/post-apocalypse miniseries developed by Josh Boone and Benjamin Cavell and based on the 1978 novel of the same name by Stephen King. The series shows an apocalyptic vision of a world decimated by plague and embroiled in an elemental struggle between good and evil. The fate of mankind rests on the frail shoulders of the a hundred and eight-year-old Mother Abagail and a handful of survivors. Their worst nightmares are embodied in a man with a lethal smile and unspeakable powers: Randall Flagg, the Dark Man.

In January 2011, it was announced that Warner Bros. Pictures and CBS Films were developing a feature-length film adaptation of King's 1978 literary classic. In August, David Yates was hired to direct with Steve Kloves to pen the adaptation. However, they subsequently left the project due to creative differences. In October, Ben Affleck replaced Yates as director. In January 2012, David Kajganich replaced Kloves to pen a new draft. In November, Affleck admitted that he was having difficulty with the adaptation. According to Kajganich, when he was hired, the plan was to make a two-film adaptation, only for Warner Bros. to change their minds and change the project to a single film. In August 2013, Scott Cooper replaced Affleck. In November, Cooper left the project due to creative differences. In late February 2014, Boone replaced Cooper and Kajganich. By early September, the script had been completed and pre-production was underway. In November, Boone planned to split his adaptation into four full-length feature films in an effort to remain true to the breadth of King's sprawling novel. In June 2015, Warner Bros. proposed an eight-part Showtime miniseries to set up the story, which would culminate in Josh Boone's film. However, in February 2016, the project was put on hold and the rights reverted to CBS Films. In late March 2018, it was reported that CBS All Access were redeveloping the project into a ten-hour limited series with Boone still attached to direct. In January 2019, a ten-hour limited series was ordered by CBS Television Studios to be broadcast on CBS All Access. By mid September, James Marsden, Odessa Young, Owen Teague, Alexander Skarsgård, Whoopi Goldberg, Amber Heard, Jovan Adepo, Nat Wolff, Irene Bedard, Brad William Henke, Greg Kinnear, Katherine McNamara, Ezra Miller, Fiona Dourif, J. K. Simmons, Heather Graham and Clifton Collins Jr. were cast. At the same time, principal photography commenced and wrapped in early March 2020. Filming took place in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and Las Vegas, Nevada. The production completed filming a few days before it would have been shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It premiered on December 17, 2020.

The ensemble cast's strong performances give the series some punch. But not enough to provide focus, which is sorely lacking for three of the four episodes of the sprawling miniseries.

This isn't the best Stephen King adaptation ever, but for an adaptation of an unfilmable book, and a TV adaptation at that, it's pretty decent.

Simon says The Stand (2020) receives:

Also, see my review for The New Mutants.