James Wan's Upcoming Horror Adaptation Is The Thing Sequel I've Longed To See

James Wan's Teacup Could Be The Thing Sequel I've Longed To See

Peacock's miniseries will be the horror show to watch in October 2024

James Wan has become something of a horror factory over the last 20 years, having co-created everything from Saw to The Conjurverse franchise. One project from Wan I can't wait to see is Teacup, a limited series centering around a group of people stranded in rural Georgia by an alien threat that entraps them in a dome-like structure. The show is fronted by Yvonne Strahovski, Scott Speedman and Kathy Baker, with Ian McCulloch (Yellowstone) acting as Teacup's showrunner.

The ominous teaser for Teacup is keeping the premise vague for now, and doesn't even reveal what the title refers to. Having read the book the show is based upon, I can promise genre fans are in for something special. It has been confirmed Teacup is taking liberties with the source material, but assuming it follows the basic premise, it will involve people trapped inside a force field while an alien with the ability to absorb and control living creatures hunts them one by one.

Teacup Adapts A Great Cult Novel Called Stinger

Teacup brings the Robert R. McCammon book to life

Teacup is an adaptation of the 1988 novel Stinger by Robert R. McCammon. This involves the titular alien bounty hunter arriving in a small desert town to hunt an escaped entity that has hidden inside one of the town's residents. Stinger may take place over a single day, but it features a sprawling cast of characters with some large-scale setpieces. "Stinger" itself is a nightmarish creation that takes over and controls its victims, with the title referring to its preferred method of attack: a barbed, mace-like tail that can reduce victims to red paste with one swipe.

So far, I think Teacup barely resembles Stinger at all based on the teaser images. Instead of an isolated desert setting, the Peacock series relocates the action to Georgia. It appears that outside of the central family unit from McCammon's Stinger, many of the supporting plays have been dropped entirely. Stinger also reads like an old-fashioned 1950s creature feature, whereas Teacup is opting for a much more restrained and low-key approach.

Regardless, the show is said to be true to the spirit of McCammon's book. I have no doubt Peacock's adaptation will drive new readers to Stinger, but the many changes it's making are only driving my curiosity. McCulloch has cited movies like The Thing or A Quiet Place as inspirations on his show, which will mean a big focus on characters with occasional, terrifying setpieces. It does make me wonder if Teacup will also show the true form of Stinger itself, which is quite a gross reveal in the book.

I Think Teacup Will Actually Improve On Stinger

Stinger needed some updating

Much as I enjoyed Stinger, it is over 35 years since it was published and it's dated in many respects. The novel is a blast, but its large cast of characters and overblown setpieces could leave it feeling unfocused and messy. There was a major subplot involving two teen gangs that felt like it came right out of a 1950s movie, and while this storyline had some commentary on the nature of prejudice, it would feel out of place in a modern-day series.

Teacup is said to be stripping Stringer right back to its core elements, losing the large ensemble and scope to make the horror more intimate and intense. I'm a little disappointed it's dropping the desert setting too, but so long as it retains what made Stinger such a fun ride, that's all that matters. McCulloch has described the adaptation as "a keyhole epic," (via Collider), meaning it tells a big story but through a small framework. He seems to be pitching it as The Thing retold as a family drama, and that's a pitch I can get on board with.

Source: Collider