Cujo will air on Netflix (Image: GETTY)
Netflix has given the go-ahead for a remake of Stephen King’s 1981 horror novel, Cujo. The chilling tale follows a mother and her son who find themselves trapped in their car, under siege from a rabid dog. While Roy Lee is set to produce the reboot, no writer, director or cast have been announced yet. This isn’t the first time Cujo has been adapted for the screen; a 1983 film version starred Dee Wallace, Daniel Hugh Kelly and Danny Pintauro, and grossed $21 million (£16.2 million) worldwide.
The story centres around a friendly St Bernard who, after being bitten by a rabid bat, transforms into a relentless killer. Donna, a housewife, and her young son Tad find themselves in a nightmarish situation when their car breaks down in a remote location, leaving them at the mercy of Cujo.
King, who was battling alcohol addiction at the time, confessed he barely remembers writing the intense novel. His works have proven lucrative for , with adaptations of Carrie, The Shining and Shawshank Redemption all achieving global success. He revealed that the plot was partly inspired by a 1977 incident when he visited a mechanic due to problems with his motorcycle. He recounted how his motorcycle broke down upon arrival, and a Saint Bernard emerged from the garage, growling and lunging at him.
Stephen King signing copies of Cujo (Image: GETTY)
Although the mechanic intervened, the encounter left a lasting impression on King.
Bestselling horror writer Stephen King revealed a newspaper article about a tragic incident involving a Saint Bernard fatally attacking a child sparked the idea for his novel Cujo.
Interestingly, at the time King wrote the book, he owned a Ford Pinto, which coincidentally is the same car driven by the story’s main character, Donna, during her terrifying encounter with the rabid canine.
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Stephen King claims he can’t remember a lot about Cujo (Image: Getty Images)
The announcement of Cujo’s impending arrival on has stirred a pot of mixed feelings among the author’s fervent fan base. Avid supporters flocked to to voice their opinions on this latest development.
user Klutzysunshine couldn’t hide their enthusiasm, exclaiming: “FINALLY. I’ve been asking for this for a while since every other work of his has two or three adaptations for some reason and poor Cujo was out here with only the one.
“No one’s going to top scream queen Dee Wallace but give me an adaptation that’s more true to the book, especially with that dark ending.”
Yet Phantom1thrd’s lack of excitement was palpable: “While the idea of being trapped by a rabid dog is actually scary, Cujo was never what I was looking for from King. I’m not especially excited for this.”
Cujo will air on