Joan Allen Closes Deal to Star in Stephen King Adaptation ‘A Good Marriage’

Joan Allen will star in A Good Marriage, an adaptation of a Stephen King novella.

Peter Askin, who directed the 2007 documentary about the Hollywood Blacklist and McCarthyism titled Trumbo, is on board to helm the thriller and is producing with his Reno Productions partner Will Battersby.

King’s story, which appeared as part of the author’s Full Dark, No Stars short story collection published in 2010, centers on a woman named Darcy who discovers the sinister and gruesome double life that her husband of 25 years and father of their two children has been living. She must now decide how far she is willing to go to maintain the marriage.

Those familiar with the tale know that the role offers plenty to chew on, calling on a range of chops, both figurative and literal (sorry, couldn’t resist).  

King wrote the screenplay for the movie, which is being financed by independent equity. Paradigm is handling domestic rights, while Atlas International is selling foreign rights.

King and Askin are old friends, with Askin directing a stage production of Ghost Brothers of Darkland County, a musical written by King with music by John Mellencamp. It debuted in Atlanta this year.

Production on Marriage is due to start in New York in mid-October.

The award-winning Allen, repped by ICM Partners and attorney J. Franklin Stewart, most recently reprised her role of CIA director Pam Landy in The Bourne Legacy and was one of the stars of HBO’s Luck.

Askin, who also directed the indie drama Searching for Certainty, is repped by CAA.