THE terrifying sequel to The Shining will – quite fittingly – hit our screens on Halloween. But what can we expect from the terrifying new flick? And who stars in Doctor Sleep? Here’s what you need to know… When is the release date for Doctor Sleep in the UK? Doctor Sleep, the highly-anticipated sequel to […]
THE terrifying sequel to The Shining will – quite fittingly – hit our screens on Halloween.
But what can we expect from the terrifying new flick? And who stars in Doctor Sleep? Here’s what you need to know…
Doctor Sleep, the highly-anticipated sequel to Stephen King’s iconic haunted hotel horror, The Shining, will be released – quite fittingly – on Halloween (October 31, 2019.)
This makes it almost 40 years since the original release of Stanley Kubrick‘s version of The Shining with Jack Nicholson, which was released in 1980.
Doctor Sleep is based on the 2013 novel of the same name, which itself was the long-awaited sequel to the 1977 classic.
It is set to be directed by Mike Flanagan, who has already had experience adapting Stephen’s work, having helmed 2017’s Gerald’s Game.
The Shining sequel features an all-star cast including:
Ewan McGregor leads the cast as a grown-up version of Danny Torrance, the son of Jack Nicholson in the original version.
The role was originally played by Danny Lloyd who was cast when he was six-years-old.
The now 45-year-old has retired from acting and became a biology professor in Kentucky.
Rebecca Ferguson has been tasked to portray the villainous Rose the Hat, leader of the True Knot.
Kyleigh is playing Abra Stone, a girl with ‘ the shining.’
Alias actor Carl takes on the role of Dick Hallorann – the former cook from the Overlook Hotel who has ‘the shining.’
Fargo actor Zahn pays Crow Daddy.
Revenge actress Emily plays Snakebite Andi.
Star Trek actor Bruce plays Dr John, the Stone family’s doctor.
Jocelin plays Abra’s mother Lucy Stone.
Alex plays Danny’s mother Wendy Torrance.
Fear the Walking Dead star Cliff plays Billy Freeman.
Doctor Sleep directly follows on from the events of The Shining.
Danny Torrance remains psychologically traumatised but is taught to create lockboxes to contain the ghosts seeking revenge.
A grown-up Danny, now going by Dan, is now struggling with alcoholism and anger, the same as his late father Jack.
After embracing sobriety, his psychic powers, which had long been stunted, start to return and he uses his ability to help dying patients in a hospice thus earning the nickname Doctor Sleep.
He soon finds a new purpose when he forms a psychic connection with a girl called Abra Stone, who shares his shining ability, but is wanted by a group of murderous kidnappers that want her essence.
The film synopsis reads: “Instinctively recognising that Dan shares her power, Abra has sought him out, desperate for his help against the merciless Rose the Hat and her followers, The True Knot, who feed off the shine of innocents in their quest for immortality.
“Forming an unlikely alliance, Dan and Abra engage in a brutal life-or-death battle with Rose. Abra’s innocence and fearless embrace of her shine compel Dan to call upon his own powers as never before—at once facing his fears and reawakening the ghosts of the past.”
Yes – and it’s so scary that it’s even kept horror fans awake at night.
The teaser – which was released in June – features several shots movie fans will recognise from The Shining, however the team confirmed only one shot in the trailer was taken from Stanley Kubrick’s 1980 film.
After watching the short promo, one fan tweeted: “I can’t wait to see this. It’s not easy to scare this old lady but #DoctorSleep kept me awake a few nights.”
While another added: “I just watched the trailer for #DoctorSleep I didn’t know. Holy sh*t”
A third joked: “So now Christopher Robin is being haunted by The Shining?
Well thank goodness he’s also a Jedi master, I’m sure he’ll have it all sorted out in no time.
#DoctorSleep”
