Is a planned TV adaptation of Dean Koontz's Dark Rivers Of The Heart still happening? Dean Koontz became, alongside Stephen King, one of the most widely read horror fiction authors from the 1970s onwards. His first horror bestseller was 1973's Demon Seed, which was later adapted into a movie of the same name, and in the years that followed he penned more thrillers and horror novels. He also wrote under various pseudonyms, such as "Owen West" for the novelization of Tobe Hooper's The Funhouse. Dean Koontz has a love/hate relationship to his 1983 book Phantoms which was a huge success worldwide, but he now feels typecast him as a horror author.
Koontz's work hasn't been as widely adapted as Stephen King, and by his own admission, the films and TV movies based on his work have wildly varied in quality. The 1998 Phantoms movie, for example, is best remembered for Jay And Silent Bob Strike Back's recurring gag "Affleck was the bomb in Phantoms yo!" - which is something even Affleck's character utters. While Phantoms has a cult following it was a financial dud, while other adaptations like Hideaway, Watchers - which spawned a STV franchise - or 2004's Frankenstein TV movie turned out badly. That said, the 1997 miniseries based on his novel Intensity is a great thriller.
In 1994 he penned a well-received thriller called Dark Rivers Of The Heart, which follows a man with a mysterious past who goes on the run with a woman he just met while being chased by a psychotic government agent. Here's the current status for a planned TV adaptation.
A Dark Rivers Of The Heart Series Was Announced In 2016
In 2016 it was reported by Deadline that two production companies were teaming with actress Gloria Reuben (Mr. Robot) to adapt Dark Rivers Of The Heart for television. Koontz also gave his blessing to the series, though no networks were confirmed to be attached.
There Have Been No Updates On Dark Rivers Of The Heart
Since the initial announcement of the Dark Rivers Of The Heart series, there been no signs of movement on the project. Outside of Gloria Reuben, no other actors or filmmakers have been linked to the show either. Likewise, there's been no further news on a planned FOX pilot based on Koontz's Strangers that was announced in 2018.
Dark Rivers Of The Heart Is Likely In Development Hell
It's not unusual for TV projects to be announced that subsequently don't come together, which is seemingly the fate that befell Dark Rivers Of The Heart. There's been no sign of movement for the series in nearly four years, and while there's a chance it could be revived, it's somewhat safe to assume it isn't moving ahead anymore.