Lionsgate has tapped filmmaker JT Mollner to write and direct a film based on Stephen King’s novel The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon. Mollner described it as his “dream” and an “honour” to direct the project on the basis of King’s novel. Calling it his mother's favourite book, Mollner revealed that it is among the “most adaptable, grounded, and compelling” novels to hail from the King of Horror. The project reunites Mollner with King after his work on the screenplay adaptation for the Long Walk film in favour of Lionsgate. The Long Walk, which hails from director Francis Lawrence, is slated for a September 12 release.
The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon will also bring Mollner back together with The Long Walk producer Roy Lee. Christine Romero, Andrew Childs, and Ryan Silbert will also serve as the film’s producers. Nathan Kahane, the former President of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, who is turning an independent producer, is also part of the project.
A psychological horror story, the novel follows nine-year-old Trisha, who grapples with a life or death situation after getting strayed in the woods. Trisha has a Walkman radio broadcasting Major League Baseball for company, but her affinity for player Tom Gordon starts turning into figments of imagination that are likely to help save her life.
“The story of survival and perseverance in The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon is timeless. We’ve loved this tale for a long time, and JT is the perfect choice to adapt and direct this King fan favorite,” said Erin Westerman, the current president of the aforesaid group.
Mollner is best known for directing the subversive slasher film Strange Darling (2024), starring Willa Fitzgerald and Kyle Gallner. It opened to rave reviews for Mollner’s direction as well as Fitzgerald and Gallner’s performances. The Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films presented it with Best Thriller Film earlier this year. Strange Darling also earned the Bucheon Choice Award for Best Director at the 2023 Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival.