The HBO series The Outsider, based on Stephen King's 2018 novel, has left viewers on the edge of their seats despite flying under the radar. The 10-episode crime drama follows a police investigation into the murder of an eleven-year-old boy, with evidence pointing to a beloved local resident.
One Reddit user recommended the adaptation in a forum thread about book-to-screen adaptations, simply writing: "Stephen King's The Outsider." The series debuted on HBO Max in 2020, two years after the novel's publication, and features an ensemble cast including Ben Mendelsohn, Cynthia Erivo, and Bill Camp.
Critical Reception and Cancellation
Reviewers praised Erivo's portrayal of Holly Gibney, a character from King's Bill Hodges trilogy, as well as the show's brooding atmosphere and Jason Bateman's direction. The series earned a 91% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. However, some viewers later criticized the pacing. Despite strong reception, HBO declined to order a second season. Production company MRC sought to take the show elsewhere, and King confirmed that scripts for a follow-up had been written, but no further developments have been announced.
Other Stephen King Screen Adaptations
King's works have inspired numerous films and TV shows, including IT, Stand By Me (adapted from The Body), and The Shawshank Redemption, the highest-rated film on IMDb. His horror novel Salem's Lot has been adapted twice as a TV series and once as a film in 2024. His novella The Mist was turned into a TV series in 2017 but canceled after one season. King has noted a preference for television adaptations, saying: "That is the great thing about TV: You can take these things as they are and expand more."
The Outsider is currently available to stream on HBO Max.
