Confirmation, Cast, Story & Everything We Know

Summary

• “The Monkey,” a Stephen King short story adaptation, slated for a 2025 release by director Oz Perkins.
• Theo James, Elijah Wood, and Tatiana Maslany lead the star-studded cast of “The Monkey.”
• The film closely follows King’s original story, revolving around twin brothers who uncover a deadly monkey toy.

Another terrifying Stephen King short story is coming to the big screen, and there are already a ton of exciting updates about The Monkey. Based on the eponymous short story originally published in 1980, The Monkey concerns a pair of brothers who discover a mysterious cymbal-playing monkey toy in the attic. Unfortunately for the unsuspecting siblings, someone close to them perishes every time the mechanical simian clangs its cymbals. Aping classic stories like The Monkey’s Paw, King’s underrated tale is one of his few works yet to see the screen.

As the iconic King of Horror’s career careens into its sixth decade, the popularity of the Maine-based wordsmith seemingly hasn’t faded. Movies based on Stephen King’s works continue to be blockbusters, and though King has had his fair share of misses, his books, novellas, and short stories have proven to be a nearly endless well for Hollywood. Now, one of King’s more understated works is finally getting the adaptation treatment, and it has some big names in the cast that will surely help make The Monkey another Stephen King smash-hit.

Stephen King’s The Monkey Latest News

A Release Window Is Revealed

Though the project was formally announced in 2023, the latest news confirms a release window for The Monkey. The next Stephen King epic is slated to arrive sometime in 2025, though a more specific release date is likely a ways off. The movie is helmed by Oz Perkins, the director behind The Blackcoat’s Daughter and 2024’s Longlegs. The movie is also being produced by horror icon James Wan, who will oversee the project through his company Atomic Monster.

Director Oz Perkins is the son of legendary
Psycho
star Anthony Perkins.

Stephen King’s The Monkey Production Status

The Adaptation Arrives In 2025

Considering the film’s production is already completed, the release window will likely be narrowed down to the early part of the year.

The adaptation of Stephen King’s short story “The Monkey” was first announced in 2023 and things moved rather quickly behind the scenes. Director Oz Perkins was quickly signed on and the movie went into production in early 2024. The film wrapped in March 2024 and it has now set a release window of 2025. Considering the film’s production is already completed, the release window will likely be narrowed down to the early part of the year.

Stephen King’s The Monkey Cast

Theo James Leads Alongside Elijah Wood & Tatiana Maslany

Though the entire cast is known, only a few roles have been announced for The Monkey thus far. The lead roles will be played by Theo James who is stretching his range as twin brothers Hal and Bill. The star-studded ensemble grew in early 2024 with the addition of Elija Wood in an unnamed role alongside Tatiana Maslany of She-Hulk fame who is also playing a mystery character. While the ensemble has been announced, it’s also expected that Stephen King will have a cameo, though his role will probably be rather small.

The known cast of The Monkey includes:

Stephen King’s The Monkey Story

How Closely Will The Movie Follow The Short Story?

Since no information has been provided that counteracts the theory, it’s assumed that the movie will follow Stephen King’s short story rather closely. Considering King’s way with words, the rather simple premise is subverted with strong interpersonal drama and supernatural terror, all of which should play out in Oz Perkins’ film. The Monkey follows twin brothers Hal and Bill who discover a mysterious cymbal-playing monkey toy in the family attic. Soon, they learn that the toy actually causes the death of a loved one every time it plays.

Like many of King’s stories, the framework is merely a jumping-off point for larger themes, and The Monkey‘s similarity to classic tales like The Monkey’s Paw is no accident. Theo James’ turn as the twins will put the young actor to the highest test as he must play a pair of brothers who are at odds. This conflict is the real heart of the story, and Hal must find a way to get along with Bill to prevent even more supernatural mayhem in The Monkey.