Stephen King’s latest TV seriesThe Institutepremiered recently onMGM+, and so far it seems like it’s yet another winner in the catalog of adaptations from the author’s massive collection.The series has the spiritand style of his previous adaptations, but it differs in one small detail: King doesn’t show up in any way. The author is famous for appearing in cameos in many of his adaptations, but this time around he won’t. Series creator Jack Bender and writer Benjamin Cavell confirm that he’s not set to appear inThe Institute’s last episodes, but it wasn’t for lack of trying. King simply declined — and he has a good reason.
Bender and Cavell spoke to Cinema Blend aboutThe Institute, and commented on the author’s decision not to appear. Bender is mostly known for his work on series likeThe Sopranos,Lost, andAlias. Also,The Instituteisn’t the only King adaptation he has worked on. He directed episodes ofUnder the DomeandMr. Mercedes. However, this experience wasn’t enough to convince the author to be inThe Institute. Bender recalled King’s cameo inMr. Mercedeswhen the author hinted at the idea that he wasn’t keen on doing cameos anymore:
“On Mr. Mercedes, he came to the set, and it was a massacre that was happening in the mind of our hero villain, and he’s seeing all these dead people that he’s killed in this diner. And I said, ‘Will you be in a shot for me?’ And he said, ‘Sure.’ But I knew he probably wasn’t going to get to the set, and he said to me, ‘Ahhh, cameos. I’m not doing that so much anymore. Sometimes it’s not a good thing.'”
6 Stephen King Movies That Are Nothing Like the Book
Stephen King is a brilliant author hence most screenwriters and filmmakers stick to his vision, but occasionally, things get altered.
Cavell confirms that there was an idea to cast him inThe Institute. In fact, he was invited not only to appear in a cameo-like role, but to play a rather important character. Those familiar with the novel know about the Lisping Man and his role inthe book’s final act. Cavell explained King’s reasons for declining the role:
“Yeah, he worries that it’s distracting, which I think it can be. I mean, there was this notion, I don’t even remember who suggested it, but there was this notion at some point that he might play The Lisping Man, which I think he, by the way, before anybody else, said, ‘I think that’s really a mistake.’ He said, ‘You know, I think you need an actor for that.’
“I mean, we got just an incredible actor for it. But yes, there’s too much narrative weight on that character, I think, to make it Stephen. But look, in Season 2, who knows what he’ll want to come in and do? Anything he wants, I guess”
From the Page to the Screen: Stephen King’s Most Memorable and Funniest Cameos
King has been featured inplenty of his adaptations, and he even had a starring role in one when he played Jordy Verrill in the hilarious horror anthologyCreepshow. King has also been featured inMaximum Overdrive, when he played the man using the ATM user who was offended when the machine insulted him. Other memorable cameos include his role as a minister inPet Sematary,the pharmacist inThinner, and the antique shop owner inIt Chapter Two.
Source:Cinema Blend
The Institute
