Another terrifying Stephen King short story is coming to the big screen, and there are already a ton of exciting updates about The Monkey. Based on the eponymous short story originally published in 1980, The Monkey concerns a pair of brothers who discover a mysterious cymbal-playing monkey toy in the attic. Unfortunately for the unsuspecting siblings, someone close to them perishes every time the mechanical simian clangs its cymbals. Aping classic stories like The Monkey’s Paw, King’s underrated tale is one of his few works yet to see the screen.
As the iconic King of Horror’s career careens into its sixth decade, the popularity of the Maine-based wordsmith seemingly hasn’t faded. Movies based on Stephen King’s works continue to be blockbusters, and though King has had his fair share of misses, his books, novellas, and short stories have proven to be a nearly endless well for Hollywood. Now, one of King’s more understated works is finally getting the adaptation treatment, and it has some big names in the cast that will surely help make The Monkey another Stephen King smash-hit.
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Stephen King’s The Monkey Latest News
A Release Date Is Revealed
The only actual footage from the movie shows star Theo James covered in blood and looking terrified.
Not long after details about Oz Perkins’ new movie began to be revealed, the latest news came in the form of a trailer for The Monkey. The short teaser is only 44 seconds long, but it manages to convey a sense of dread by using carnival music that slowly becomes distorted as the camera zooms in on the titular drumming primate. The only actual footage from the movie shows star Theo James covered in blood and looking terrified.
Director Oz Perkins is the son of legendary
Psycho
star Anthony Perkins.
Stephen King’s The Monkey Release Date
The Adaptation Arrives In 2025
a winter 2025 release date does suggest that it isn’t being marketed as a big summer blockbuster like previous Stephen King movies have been.
With the highly anticipated Stephen King film already wrapped in its production phase, it didn’t take long for a release date to be announced for The Monkey. The Oz Perkins film has now been scheduled to arrive in theaters on February 21, 2025, and will presumably see a wide release considering the overwhelming popularity of King and his adaptations. However, a winter 2025 release date does suggest that it isn’t being marketed as a big summer blockbuster like previous Stephen King movies have been.
Stephen King’s The Monkey Cast
Theo James Leads Alongside Elijah Wood & Tatiana Maslany
Though the entire cast is known, only a few roles have been announced for The Monkey thus far. The lead roles will be played by Theo James who is stretching his range as twin brothers Hal and Bill. The star-studded ensemble grew in early 2024 with the addition of Elija Wood in an unnamed role alongside Tatiana Maslany of She-Hulk fame who is also playing a mystery character. While the ensemble has been announced, it’s also expected that Stephen King will have a cameo, though his role will probably be rather small.
The known cast of The Monkey includes:
|
Actor |
The Monkey Role |
|
|---|---|---|
|
Theo James |
Hal/Bill |
 |
|
Christian Convery |
Young Hal/Bill |
 |
|
Tatiana Maslany |
Unknown |
 |
|
Elijah Wood |
Unknown |
 |
|
Colin O’Brien |
Unknown |
 |
|
Rohan Campbell |
Unknown |
 |
|
Sarah Levy |
Unknown |
 |
Stephen King’s The Monkey Story
How Closely Will The Movie Follow The Short Story?
Since no information has been provided that counteracts the theory, it’s assumed that the movie will follow Stephen King’s short story rather closely. Considering King’s way with words, the rather simple premise is subverted with strong interpersonal drama and supernatural terror, all of which should play out in Oz Perkins’ film. The Monkey follows twin brothers Hal and Bill who discover a mysterious cymbal-playing monkey toy in the family attic. Soon, they learn that the toy actually causes the death of a loved one every time it plays.
Like many of King’s stories, the framework is merely a jumping-off point for larger themes, and The Monkey‘s similarity to classic tales like The Monkey’s Paw is no accident. Theo James’ turn as the twins will put the young actor to the highest test as he must play a pair of brothers who are at odds. This conflict is the real heart of the story, and Hal must find a way to get along with Bill to prevent even more supernatural mayhem in The Monkey.
Stephen King’s The Monkey Trailer
Watch The Teaser Below
Though the movie isn’t set to premiere until 2025, a teaser trailer for The Monkey was dropped in August 2024 that serves to increase the dread for the upcoming Stephen King adaptation. In the span of only 44 seconds, the teaser shows the creepy drumming monkey as the camera zooms in with distorted carnival music playing under the scene. Finally, the teaser concludes with a shot of Theo James’ Hall or Bill removing his glasses in shock after being drenched in blood.
The Monkey
Adapted from the story of the same name by Stephen King, The Monkey is a horror mystery film that follows twin brothers Hal and Bill, who discover a mysterious monkey toy in their father’s attic that seems tied to several grizzly deaths. After years apart, the twins learn that similar deaths have begun again and must reunite to destroy the monkey.
- Director
- Osgood Perkins
- Studio(s)
- Atomic Monster
- Cast
- Theo James , Elijah Wood , Tatiana Maslany , Rohan Campbell , Christian Convery , Sarah Levy
- Release Date
- February 21, 2025
