Exclusive: Pet Sematary: Bloodlines director Lindsey Anderson Beer explains why casting Stephen King adaptation vet Henry Thomas was important.
Summary
- Director Lindsey Anderson Beer was intentional in casting Henry Thomas for Pet Sematary: Bloodlines to bring a sense of weight and genre knowledge to the elder characters.
- Thomas has had a successful career in the horror genre with frequent collaborations with writer/director Mike Flanagan, including previous Stephen King adaptations.
- Thomas has showcased his versatility in various roles within the horror sphere, from a caring father to a more intense and maniacal character, making him a strong choice for the role in the King prequel.
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While already hosting an impressive ensemble cast, director Lindsey Anderson Beer explains why casting Henry Thomas was important for Pet Sematary: Bloodlines was important for the prequel movie. Thomas stars in the upcoming Stephen King adaptation as Dan Crandall, Jud’s father who knows of the danger of the eponymous graveyard and its history in the town of Ludlow. When his son’s efforts to leave his home are upended by the mysterious return of a childhood friend, Dan and Jud must work together to put a stop to the evil of the cemetery before it spreads.
While speaking exclusively with Screen Rant for Pet Sematary: Bloodlines‘ release, Beer was asked about Thomas’ Stephen King adaptation past and how it affected her casting decision. The co-writer/director acknowledged it was “100% in mind” when she approached him to play Jud’s father, also pointing to the other older actors in the cast as acting as a tone setter for audiences. See what Beer explained below:
That was 100% in mind. I feel like we only have so much screen time with the elder characters, and I wanted people who communicated a shorthand of, “Okay, yes, they’ve been around this evil, they have this almost weight of genre to them.” So people like Henry Thomas, and then Pam Grier with her action legacy, people like that I felt like instantly give the audience a sense that these people know s–t.
Henry Thomas’ Pet Sematary Casting Continues A Great Career Trend
While some audiences may still best remember Thomas for his turn as young protagonist Elliott in Steven Spielberg’s classic sci-fi adventure E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, the star has gone on to enjoy a very successful career in the horror genre over the past couple of decades. Much of this success has stemmed from Thomas’ frequent collaborations with writer/director Mike Flanagan, having appeared in every one of his projects beginning with 2016’s Ouija: Origin of Evil and most recently resulting in the upcoming Netflix miniseries The Fall of the House of Usher, Flanagan’s last project for the streamer.
Amidst these collaborations have been two King adaptations, first with 2017’s Gerald’s Game, in which he starred as Jesse’s father Tom in flashbacks, followed by Doctor Sleep, playing a manifestation of Jack Torrance in The Overlook Hotel. Even before this, Thomas had multiple King adaptations under his belt, appearing in the made-for-TV adaptation of Desperation in 2006 as well as Nightmares & Dreamscapes: From the Stories of Stephen King the same year, starring in the episode based on the short story “The End of the Whole Mess”.
Across his various King and Flanagan collaborations, Thomas has not only proven his strength in the horror sphere, but also his versatility in all kinds of roles, ranging from the caring Father Tom in Ouija: Origin of Evil to the more maniacal Jack in Doctor Sleep. With Pet Sematary: Bloodlines, the actor looks to find the perfect mix of the warmth he can bring as a father to the dedication of protecting his town from evil, proving Beer’s strength in casting the King prequel.
Key Release Date
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Pet Sematary: Bloodlines Release Date: 2023-10-06
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Source: SCHOOL EMC
