Universal Wins Bidding War for Stephen King’s ‘The Tommyknockers’

James Wan will produce through his Atomic Monster banner with an eye to direct

tommyknockers jeremy slater
"Tommyknockers" 1993 TV miniseries (ABC)

Universal has won a heated bidding war for “Tommyknockers,” a feature film based on Stephen King’s 1987 sci-fi horror novel.

James Wan, who is in post-production on “Aquaman” and produces “The Conjuring” franchise, will produce through his Atomic Monster banner with an eye to direct.

Michael Clear, Roy Lee and Jon Berg will produce through Vertigo Entertainment along with Larry Sanitsky, who executive produced the hit 1993 ABC miniseries based on the book.

Universal beat out aggressive bids from Sony and Netflix.

“The Tommyknockers” is about the residents of Haven, Maine, who are effected by a metal object that turns out to be an extension of a long-buried alien spacecraft. Once it’s exposed, the spacecraft releases an invisible gas into the atmosphere that gradually transforms people into beings similar to the alien visitors.

Jimmy Smits and Marg Helgenberger starred in the two-part 1993 ABC miniseries.

Deadline first reported the news.

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