Teacupseries creator Ian McCulloch has explained the changes made to the TV series compared to the book it’s adapting, that beingStingerby Robert R. McCammon. A story whose inspiration appears pulled fromJohn Carpenter movieslikeThe Thing, the original 1988 novel by McCammon sees a small town trapped by an unknown force, which results in a whole host of horrors transpiring around its ensemble cast of characters. The book was aNew York TimesBestseller and was nominated for the Bram Stoker Award for Best Novel. However, only some elements will be utilized in its adaptation.
Speaking withScreen Rant, McCulloch explained whyTeacupwill only be telling the story of three families in a small Georgia town instead of the entire township,the mantra “less is more” defining how the TV adaptation was approached.Likening the series toJaws, the creator said some horrors across the series will remain hidden for some time. He also hinted at potentially exploring other aspects of the book in future seasons, saying McCammon himself was excited for the adaptation’s different direction. Check out what McCulloch had to say below:
Absolutely, there were a lot of things in the novel that I thought, “Oh, if we could do this.” But once we made the decision to tell the story much smaller, a ground-level story about three families, as opposed to an entire town, you have to pick and choose. The mantra in the writer’s room, and pre-production, and in production was, “Less is more. Less is more. Less is more.” The book, I think, is very big and flashy, and there’s a lot of set pieces and characters and things to look at. We wanted to do something more in the Jaws mentality, meaning the less you see the monster, the longer you have the audience involved, the more effective it’ll be when you do see something horrific. Not that there is a monster in our show — but maybe there is. I don’t know. I can’t tell you. I could tell you, I know what happens, but I’m not going to tell you, so you can watch it. [Chuckles] So, less is more, so we had to pick and choose. And then, the great thing is if we are so lucky to have subsequent seasons, then we’ve got this treasure trove of things that we can pick and choose and bring into our show’s world from the book, because McCammon is very much on board with the show. He came to set and had a blast, and it’s just, yeah, a different experience. I think that’s what makes an adaptation exciting when it’s not word for word, sentence for sentence, character for character, because otherwise, you could read the book and you’d know exactly how it’s going to go.
What Teacup’s Book Changes Mean For The Stinger Adaptation
Not Everything Will Be Easy To Predict
It was previously reported thatTeacupwon’t be adapting all ofStinger, instead using its premise to focus on the Chenoweth family and their survival as strange events begin to happen in their small town. Despite the liberties it’s taking with its source material,Stephen King has already praised the show, comparing it to the likes ofFromandLostbecause of its mysterious elements. Although the Peacock original isn’t going to be a direct adaptation of the book that inspired it, the eight-episode series is still likely going to leave a lasting impression.
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I was excited for James Wan’s horror series Teacup, but the news that it essentially ignores the cult novel it adapts is a real disappointment.
Since McCammon himself seemingly approves of the series' direction, it’s possible the show will become a streaming success,warranting further exploration ofStingerin future seasons. Its quality levels will be a determining factor, but with the backing of James Wan and his production studio Atomic Monster, the show seems destined to be a well-remembered addition toPeacock’s TV library. The scaling down of its story could also warrant deeper exploration of its horror elements, something that could even expand some ideas thanks to a more focused lens.
Our Take On Teacup’s Changes From The Book
It Will Work As Long As It Serves The Story
Despite the changes likely makingTeacupfeel like a very different experience from McCammon’s original novel, the series can still maintain the spirit of the original as long as its changes work to serve the story. WithStinger’s terrifying premise still being utilized, good characterization and a gripping storyline can help make the smaller scale feel worthwhile. With the series beginning on Thursday, October 10, it won’t be long until the importance of its smaller scale becomes clearer.
Teacup
Cast
Teacup is a horror thriller series that follows a group of people thrust into the middle of rural Georgia who must face off with an unknown threat to stay alive.
