‘Castle Rock’ Renewed! Stephen King Proves Hot for Hulu
Hulu has announced their hit horror series Castle Rock has been renewed for a second season. Obtaining the highest first and second-week view-through rates since it’s debut, Castle Rock is the most successful Original first season launch for the streaming giant. While Hulu’s vice president Craig Erwich acknowledged high expectations heading into building a series based around the iconic Stephen King Universe, he was quite pleased with the results.
“It was a deeply original idea from two of the world’s greatest storytellers, and it was centered around something that’s been beloved and familiar to many of Stephen King’s legion of fans, which is the town of Castle Rock. So expectations were high to begin with, but it exceeded them,” says Erwich. “The reaction from the variety of audiences has been overwhelming and it seems to be one of the most talked about shows of the summer.” – Source: Variety
Erwich went on to explain that while having mega mystery masters JJ Abrams and Stephen King at the helm, Castle Rock also benefited from strategic marketing and good timing. Fortunate attendees at San Diego Comic-Con had an opportunity to catch the first episode of the highly anticipated series before it’s release to the general public.
“We were able to use [San Diego] Comic-Con as this massive platform, and it was really for the fans,” Erwich explains. “That momentum really carried us into this successful season of television.” – Source: Variety
Hulu seems to have found a good fit with Mr. Stephen King. Castle Rock is playing a major role in bringing new subscribers but it is actually the second King-based series for streaming service. The first, adapted from King’s bestseller 11.22.63, was released in 2016 and starred James Franco as a man attempting to stop the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Hulu even obtained rights to the original It film which also became a top-performing title according to Erwich.
“We have the ability to create a whole Stephen King experience,” Erwich notes. “I think [that] will accumulate over time.” – Source: Variety
King’s Constant Readers are sure to be thrilled that Hulu will be returning to the Rock. In the meantime, follow the horror-filled happenings in the tiny town the connects a King-dom of chaos. It is Ka. 😉
Source: Variety
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