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Joel Schumacher’s Flatliners is a cult classic that won’t stay dead. It already got a continuation in the form of a 2017 reboot that… exists, but there’s apparently still a little more blood in that stone to be drawn. But instead of another movie or punting it over to TV, this third stab at a franchise comes in the form of a book.
Specifically, author J.D. Barker (best known for Forsaken and Behind the Closed Door) is penning the novel Flatliners Resurrection. Key difference here is, it’ll be based on the film’s original screenplay penned at the time by Peter Filardi, who reacquired the rights years ago. Per Deadline, Barker’s more supernatural-focused pitch on the material was enough to win Filardi over, and it’s apparently so strong that screen rights are already being brokered. In a press release, Filardi affirmed his confidence in Barker, saying the book will “reinvigorate the Flatliners franchise for a new generation.”
In his own statement, Barker said the movie’s concept “has always fascinated me. I’m honored to have the opportunity to explore these themes of mortality, consequences, and the unknown in a novel format. Fans can expect a story that honors the spirit of the original while pushing into new, uncharted territories. We’re going to scare the hell out of you.”
Shot by Jan de Bont, the original Flatliners released in 1990 and starred Kiefer Sutherland, Julia Roberts, Kevin Bacon, and Oliver Platt. In it, a group of med students put each other in near death experiences, which ends up making them see visions of the afterlife before they’re brought back to life. From that point, things go not great for them as visions of their past become more and more real and harmful. We’ll find out if Flatliners fares better on the page in the near future.
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