The CBS All Access adaptation of Stephen King’s The Stand is nearing the end of production. Ah yes, the limited series is currently wrapping up filming in Canada which means we are ever-closer to seeing Stu, Frannie, Lloyd and the rest of the gang on our small screen. In fact, CBS recently stated that they plan to stream the massive show in the final quarter of 2020. What better way to wrap up the end of the year than by watching all of society fall victim to a vicious killer plague? Delightful.
The promotional machine for The Stand hasn’t really fired up yet but keen observers and King fanatics such as myself have been picking up little pieces of behind-the-scenes goodness as camera have been rolling. Below we have a few glimpses of production and a bit of casting news too. Behold, Constant Readers.
First we have a semi-obstructed view of Alexander Skarsgard as Randall Flagg. This was taken from producer Taylor Elmore’s Instagram, which has a few cool snaps from the set. This one is special because it confirms that Skarsgard will be a much more modern-looking Flagg. The mullet is gone! Behold a bearded, trimmed Flagg!
Next are a few photos from actor Nat Wolff’s Instagram. Wolff will be playing Lloyd, Flagg’s right-hand man. He’s a pivotal part of the story and Wolff seems like something of a surprising casting choice. He’s much younger and better looking than many had pictured Lloyd but these photos prove that he’s obviously willing to look a little rough. The most exciting photo would be Wolff’s last one, which is him behind bars. Fans of the novel know that Lloyd doesn’t have a great time in prison and is forced to contemplate some very brutal things to survive. I personally love the look they’re going for here with Lloyd. The fashion choices once again reiterate that this is a very modern telling of The Stand.
Our next behind-the-scenes look is from Fiona Dourif, who let it slip that she’s been cast as the Rat Man. Rat Man is one of Flagg’s minions and isn’t a major part but is certainly a memorable one. Obviously the role was written as a male in the novel but this is a smart bit of gender-bending that I’m totally behind. Get a load of the look in Dourif’s eyes, she’s downright deranged. She definitely looks like someone who would rally behind Randall Flagg.
The final photo contains perhaps the most wonderful news of all: Clifton Collins Jr will be in The Stand. His Instagram includes the photos below. In one, he’s showing off his biker jacket and in the other he’s side-by-side with none other than the aforementioned Nat Wolff. Collins’s caption and his jacket reveal that he will be playing Bobby Terry. Terry is a small role in the book, a Flagg follower who makes a big mistake and is promptly punished for it by Flagg himself. It’ll likely be just a bit more than a cameo for Collins but I am sure he will absolutely kill it. Plus he will get to work very, very closely with Skarsgard.
Now that filming is concluding, you can bet that CBS will work on the next stage of the game: editing and promotion. I wouldn’t be shocked if we start seeing some official photos soon. C’mon, CBS, give us something. No one wants to be scrolling through Instagram everyday.