Fiona Dourif joins the cast of The Stand, CBS All Access’ limited series adaptation of Stephen King’s novel, as the villainous Rat Man. King’s apocalyptic novel received the adaptation treatment in 1994, with a miniseries of the same name, which aired on ABC. Early last year, CBS’s streaming service announced it had ordered a 10-episode limited series based on the horror novel.
Set after a strain of influenza has wiped out over 99% of the world’s population, The Stand depicts the lives of the remaining survivors. The novel culminates in the ultimate showdown between good and evil, with the survivors caught in the middle. King’s vision opens up a world where the fate of mankind depends on the 108-year-old Mother Abagail and a handful of unlikely heroes. Ultimate bad guy, Randall Flagg, presents a slew of fresh nightmares as he wields unspeakable powers. This new adaptation of The Stand has garnered massive interest for the impressive list of pedigree talent attached. Whoopi Goldberg has been tapped to play Mother Abagail, and Big Little Lies star Alexander Skarsgard will portray Flagg. Now, Dourif rounds out the cast list which also includes, Heather Graham, Amber Heard, Greg Kinnear, Odessa Young, and James Marsden.
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As reported to Syfy Wire, Dourif will play the hoodlum, Rat Man. Previously portrayed by Rick Aviles, in the 1994 adaptation, "Ratty" Erwins (also know as The Rat Man) is best known for donning pirate-like attire, and his devious behavior. Regarded for her work in the horror genre, with roles in The Purge and Curse of Chucky, Douriff's casting makes sense, but reveals an obvious change to King’s novel. Speaking on SyFy Wire’s Let’s Get Cereal!, Dourif announced herself as the latest addition to The Stand’s cast, saying, “I’m playing Rat Man. You guys remember Rat Man? Rat Man is now Rat Woman, which is great. I read the book and watched the miniseries. I love The Stand.”
The Stand is directed by Josh Boone (New Mutants), and written by Ben Cavell. Fans familiar with King’s novel even have something to be excited about, as the author declared he wrote a separate epilogue for the new adaptation. King’s novels getting the adaptation treatment show no signs of slowing down. HBO’s adaption of King’s The Outsider proved a success, and production is underway on The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon and The Long Walk, among others.
Dourif continues to make her mark on Hollywood, carving out her own career path after being regarded solely as Child’s Play actor Brad Dourif’s daughter for so long. Fresh off a recurring role on The Blacklist, Dourif's Rat Man casting adds another unique character to her ever-expanding resume. As fans wait for a first look at the project, the gender-swapped role also adds another new twist to get excited about. Given Dourif’s ability to inhabit her roles, and considering some of the situations her previous characters have endured, she’s the perfect choice to contribute to King’s apocalyptic vision in The Stand. No doubt the newest adaptation of The Stand will be a massive success for CBS All Access.
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Source: SyFy Wire