The novella "Rat" by Stephen King is being adapted into a feature film.

      Deadline reports that a feature film adaptation of Stephen King's novella Rat is in the works, produced by Jay Van Hoy (The Witch, The Lighthouse) and directed by Isaac Ezban (Mal de Ojo, Párvulos).

      First published in 2020 as part of If It Bleeds, Rat tells the story of Drew Larson, a writer “cursed by his own ambition.” Each attempt to write a novel has ended in disaster—illness, misfortune, or worse. In a bid to break this cycle, he retreats to a remote cabin in the Maine woods, believing this time will be different. However, when a violent storm isolates him, Drew's physical health deteriorates, and his mental state begins to unravel. In the throes of fever and madness, he encounters a mysterious stranger who offers salvation and success… at a cost that Drew can barely understand.

      “Stephen King has always been my favorite author since I began reading horror in my teenage years, and I’ve long dreamed of adapting his work,” the director noted. “He captures the essence of beauty and brutality that has influenced my vision and approach as a storyteller. I've read much of his writing, and Rat stands out as one of my favorite stories; it's the perfect match—a dark, intimate, bizarre, sometimes humorous, and profoundly unsettling narrative that truly resonates. I view this as a survival story about writer's block, as well as a profound exploration of the conflict between our craft and our loved ones, which is a theme I personally connect with. King has consistently inspired me as both a filmmaker and storyteller, and I’m honored to bring this story to fruition.”

      Rat will be the third of the four stories from If It Bleeds to be adapted for the big screen, following 2022’s Mr. Harrigan’s Phone and The Life of Chuck, which was released earlier this year.