Stephen King's Underrated Horror Adaptation 1408 Is Officially Getting a Sequel

Although Stephen King is the undisputed King of horror, not all of his works, including their screen adaptations, get the appreciation they deserve. One such underrated gem is the 2007 psychological horror film directed by Swedish filmmaker Mikael Håfström and based on King's 1999 short story. The acclaimed novelist reportedly first wrote the story's opening pages for an appendix to his memoir, On Writing, as an example of how a story changes from one draft to the next and how he edits his work.

Starring John Cusack and Samuel L. Jackson, 1408 is a critically acclaimed adaptation that deserves way more attention. Released in the U.S. on June 22, 2007, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, the film earned critical praise and currently holds an 80% Certified Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 176 reviews. "Relying on psychological tension rather than overt violence and gore, 1408 is a genuinely creepy thriller with a strong lead performance by John Cusack," the consensus reads. It was also a box-office success, grossing US$20.6 million in its opening weekend and ultimately earning $133 million against a $25 million production budget.

Nearly two decades after its successful release, 1408 is officially getting a sequel. According to CBR, the sequel appears to be in early development, as movie scooper Daniel Richtman has confirmed. Cusack and Jackson are also said to be returning, with Håfström reportedly back to direct. No plot details have been shared yet, but since the original film had multiple alternate endings used across different versions, from theatrical release to DVD and streaming, fans can expect the sequel to pick up from any of them.

'1408' Is the Stephen King Adaptation You Need for Halloween

In 1408, Cusack plays Mike Enslin, a successful, cynical author of niche books about supernatural events, despite not believing in them. While promoting his latest book in Hermosa Beach, California, he receives an anonymous postcard showing The Dolphin, a New York City hotel, with the message: "Don't enter 1408." Taking it as a challenge, Mike heads to The Dolphin and requests room 1408. Hotel manager Gerald Olin, played by Jackson, tries to dissuade him but fails. Ignoring Olin's warnings, Mike soon discovers what real terror feels like when he spends the night in the supposedly haunted room.