A new hit sci-fi show based on a Stephen King novel is taking the significant risk of repeating a storytelling decision that has burdened many adaptations in the past. Although the show does a decent job of bringing a compelling Stephen King story to the small screen, it may struggle to maintain its momentum if it relies too heavily on that same flawed approach.
In the realm of television, Stephen King adaptations have faced somewhat of a drought since 2020’s The Outsider. The thrilling HBO show was the last Stephen King adaptation that managed to impress critics and achieve a high Rotten Tomatoes score.
The latest TV series based on a Stephen King book does not come close to being as acclaimed as The Outsider. However, it still manages to be engaging enough to receive mostly favorable reviews and even gain sufficient viewership to secure a renewal. Unfortunately, it seems to be following the same path as many unsuccessful Stephen King TV shows.
The Institute Season 2 Is Confirmed Without Another Stephen King Book To Adapt
MGM+’s adaptation of Stephen King’s The Institute introduces numerous changes to its source material. However, for the most part, it adheres to the same narrative structure as the original novel and covers almost all major beats from its storyline. Surprisingly, despite this, The Institute has been renewed for season 2.
This renewal confirms that the show intends to go beyond the book’s narrative and adopt an original storyline. Given how many story beats from The Institute season 1’s ending remain unresolved, season 2 appears to have ample room for expansion. A few characters who meet their demise in the book’s final arc also survive in the show, which leaves even more space for the series’ development.
However, since the titular facility is destroyed by the end of The Institute season 1 and even the main young characters manage to escape from captivity, it is difficult not to question whether there are enough stories for season 2 to explore. Original storytelling can yield great results, but many previous Stephen King adaptations have struggled after deviating from their source material.
Stephen King Adaptations Going Beyond His Books Don’t Always Work
A closer examination of many Stephen King TV and movie adaptations reveals that almost all sequels or follow-ups to his works have only succeeded when they were based on stories written by him. For example, Doctor Sleep and IT: Chapter 2 found success because they were directly rooted in King’s novels and expanded lore that the author had already crafted.
Original follow-ups, such as the Pet Sematary prequel, Salem’s Lot sequels, and the numerous Children of the Corn movies, were all destined for failure because they attempted too hard to establish their own identities beyond Stephen King’s original work. Additionally, Under the Dome faced significant criticism after diverging from its source material in season 2.
Did You Know: Stephen King initially praised Under the Dome, but later changed his mind about the series after it strayed completely off course after season 1.
Castle Rock, which does not anchor itself in one specific Stephen King story and adopts an original narrative that blends various elements from the author’s works, is a rare exception in television that has received acclaim despite forging its own path. Similarly, The Institute could join this list of exceptions, but only time will reveal what lies ahead for its upcoming installment.
