November 22, 1963 is a date many Americans and people around the world remember as the day President Kennedy was killed, as three gunshots rang out in Dallas, changing the world forever. Now, television adaptation 11.22.63 is taking the story from Stephen King's novel of the same name and bringing it to an eight-episode mystery thriller from Emmy-winning executive producer J.J. Abrams.
Credit: Hulu
James Franco plays 'ordinary high school teacher' Jake Epping who's given an impossible mission of travelling back through time to prevent President Kennedy's assassination. Encouraged to go ahead with the plan by his ailing friend Al Templeton (Chris Cooper), viewers will follow Jake's journey, delving into the darkness the American dream can house and transporting back to the world of 1960s Texas.
Exploring the mystery surrounding supposed gunman Lee Harvey Oswald (Daniel Webber), his family and associates, Jake's mission doesn't only face threats from the youngster but also a beautiful librarian with whom he falls in love with, called Sadie Dunhill (Sarah Gadon).
Stephen King says of the series: "I like the way J.J. views the world, he sees the world that I understand.
"In the case for 11.22.63 for me it was a little bit like kind of hypnosis that unlocks the door to memories you had forgotten that you had, so the more I wrote about the 60s the more I remembered the 60s... And then to come onto the set and see that they've brought it into the real world, it's like seeing the furnishings of your head being brought to life."
Abrams adds: "One of the most exciting things about 11.22.63 coming out, is that people who have not read the book are going to experience this incredible story, of time travel, of love, of murder, of politics and intrigue and conspiracy.
"[Stephen] just takes life as we know it and turns it, in a way that no one else can."
Chatting about the pilot episode, Abrams explains: "[It is] a critical episode because the threshold gets crossed from now to back then. So I think the key is that it establishes a complete reality, a character who could be any one of us who suddenly is in the most extraordinary situation and who has an ambition, which is to prevent the assassination of John F. Kennedy... You just know he is going to be up against incredible odds, not the least of which is time, which is an enemy in the course of the show. Time itself is trying to prevent you from screwing with what it thinks is inevitable. It's a very cool story."
He concludes: "This time travel story I think will appeal because it's scary, it's romantic, it has a huge heart. I think it will appeal to people because there is a terrific cast that we have including James Franco, Chris Cooper among others and a wonderful Scottish director, Kevin MacDonald who is a terrific talent."
11.22.63 premieres Sunday 10th April 9pm on FOX.
You can also watch 11.22.63 contract free on NOW TV with the Entertainment Pass.
Tagged in Stephen King James Franco