One More Stephen King Novella Is Being Adapted into a Movie

Stephen King’s novella Rat is getting a movie adaptation, with a team of experienced producers and filmmakers bringing the horror story to the big screen.

The project is being produced by Jay Van Hoy, known for The Witch and The Lighthouse, alongside Fernando Ferro (The Birthday Cake) and Paul Perez (Father of the Bride). Mexican director Isaac Ezban, recognized for Mal de Ojo and Párvulos, will direct the film, with Jeff Howard (The Haunting of Hill House) writing the screenplay.

Rat follows Drew Larson, a writer plagued by bad luck and misfortune with every book he attempts. Seeking to break the cycle, he retreats to an isolated cabin in the Maine woods. Trapped by a violent storm, Drew’s physical and mental health begin to fail, and he encounters a mysterious visitor who offers success—but at a dangerous cost.

The story originally appeared in King’s 2020 collection If It Bleeds, which has already inspired adaptations such as Mike Flanagan’s The Life of Chuck and Netflix’s Mr. Harrigan’s Phone.

Ezban spoke about his excitement for the project, saying, “Stephen King has always been my favorite writer, ever since I started reading horror as a teenager, and since then, I’ve had the long-time dream of adapting some of his material… Rat remains one of my favorite stories he’s ever created… the perfect match – a dark, intimate, bizarre, even humorous and deeply unsettling story that gets under your skin.”

He added that the film will explore themes of creativity, obsession, and the conflict between personal ambition and loved ones.

The production team believes the adaptation will capture both the terror and human depth that make King’s work enduring. “Stephen King’s work has always been a touchstone for genre filmmakers, and with Isaac and Jeff steering this adaptation, we believe it will capture both the terror and humanity that make his stories timeless,” the producers said in a joint statement.

I think this adaptation has real potential to stand out among recent King projects, especially with a team so focused on both the psychological and horror aspects of the story. How do you feel about Rat coming to the big screen? Share your thoughts in the comments .