Giancarlo Esposito of Breaking Bad fame is getting creepy for an upcoming TV role. He has joined the cast of the upcoming horror anthology series Creepshow, which will feature an installment based on a Stephen King story. The episode marks the second time Esposito has been featured in a Stephen King adaptation, and it's probably safe to say that this venture will be very different from the first for the actor. The King story being adapted is "Gray Matter," and the previous King project for Giancarlo Esposito was Maximum Overdrive.
Yes, Giancarlo Esposito's Stephen King adaptation debut was in the much-panned 1986 film adaptation of the short story "Trucks." If Esposito doesn't jump to mind when you think of the film, you shouldn't feel bad. The movie, which starred Emilio Estevez and was written and directed by Stephen King, only featured Esposito playing a character known as "Videoplayer."
Fortunately for everybody, Esposito went on to land some much meatier roles, including the one that would score him an Emmy nom and take him onto not just one but two TV shows. While he's only slated to appear in one episode of Creepshow at this point, that may be plenty to showcase his talents and deliver something seriously eerie.
In the "Gray Matter" installment of Creepshow, two old-timers by the names of Doc and Chief head out into bad weather to check on alcoholic single father Richie. They happened upon Richie's terrified son at a convenience store, located in a dying small town. It's not clear which character Giancarlo Esposito will be playing at this point, although we can probably rule out the son. It may be a bit rich to call him an "old-timer," but it's probably safe to say that he could play any of the other three characters from the description.
Also starring in "Gray Matter" are Adrienne Barbeau and Tobin Bell. Given that the prominent characters from Stephen King's short story are all men, I have to wonder if one of the characters was changed to a woman for Barbeau or she'll play an original character. Interestingly, Barbeau also had a role in the original run of Creepshow, back in 1982.
"Gray Matter" will be adapted for Creepshow by Byron Willinger and Philip de Blasi of The Commuter fame, and directed by Creepshow showrunner Greg Nicotero, best known for his work on The Walking Dead. This installment will serve as the series premiere for Creepshow on Shudder, which is only fitting. What better way to launch a horror series than with a story based on something from Stephen King?
Confirmation that "Gray Matter" will be a Stephen King story adapted for Creepshow does raise the question of whether or not one of King's most disturbing works is actually heading to TV, as was previously rumored. It is not one of the confirmed stories coming to the show, which includes a story from Bird Box's author that could be super scary. Perhaps even nightmare-inducing!
Creepshow is expected to premiere on Shudder at some point in 2019, with production scheduled to wrap later this week. For some viewing options now and in the not-too-distant future, be sure to check out our midseason TV premiere schedule. You may not find anything as creepy as Creepshow, but there's plenty to look forward to. More Stephen King madness will come to television with the second season of Castle Rock as well, and that could be an even wilder ride than Season 1.
