‘The Life of Chuck’ acquired by Neon for 2025 release
Neon has given life to “Chuck.”
On Thursday, the indie distributor announced it had acquired Mike Flanagan’s “The Life of Chuck” with plans to debut it in theaters next summer.
The film, which is based on the novella by Stephen King, won this year’s People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival
Variety first reported Neon’s acquisition plans, with Deadline quick to follow.
Welcome home, Chuck.⁰Mike Flanagan’s incredible adaptation of Stephen King’s THE LIFE OF CHUCK will be in theaters everywhere next Summer. pic.twitter.com/js87FURO14
— NEON (@neonrated) September 26, 2024
“The Life of Chuck” is told in three parts, with an ensemble cast that includes Tom Hiddleston, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Karen Gillan, Mia Sara, Carl Lumbly, Benjamin Pajak, Jacob Tremblay, and Mark Hamill. Further plot details were provided by Deadline: “It begins with a world in freefall: the internet has failed, and TV and cell phone transmission seems next. Climate change is another major problem with California all but fallen below the Pacific Ocean, and suicides are skyrocketing.
“Amidst the chaos, there is a slew of billboards touting a man named Charles ‘Chuck’ Krantz (Hiddleston), and congratulating him for being a guiding presence for 39 years. Nobody in town knows who the hell he is, or whether he might have some answers as their world crumbles all around them.”
Flanagan has a familiarity with King’s work, having previously adapted the author’s books “Doctor Sleep” and “Gerald’s Game” for the screen. He’s also well known for his Netflix shows “The Haunting of Hill House,” “The Haunting of Bly Manor,” “Midnight Mass,” and “The Fall of the House of Usher.”
The news that “The Life of Chuck” will arrive in 2025 breaks an Oscars streak for the TIFF audience award winner. Since 2011’s “Where Do We Go Now?” every People’s Choice winner has been nominated for Best Picture at the following year’s ceremony. The list is as follows (wins in parenthesis).
2012: “Silver Linings Playbook” (Best Actress)
2013: “12 Years a Slave” (Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress, Best Adapted Screenplay)
2014: “The Imitation Game” (Best Adapted Screenplay)
2015: “Room” (Best Actress)
2016: “La La Land” (Best Actress, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, Best Score, Best Song)
2017: “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” (Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor)
2018: “Green Book” (Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor, Best Original Screenplay)
2019: “Jojo Rabbit” (Best Adapted Screenplay)
2020: “Nomadland” (Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress)
2021: “Belfast” (Best Original Screenplay)
2022: “The Fabelmans”
2023: “American Fiction” (Best Adapted Screenplay)
The news that Neon will release “The Life of Chuck” next year, however, means it’s possible two consecutive TIFF audience award winners could win up as 2026 Best Picture Oscar nominees. After its showing in Toronto, the film was seen as a contender for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Picture. According to Variety, Neon plans a robust awards campaign for the title next year.