1. Stephen King
Known For: "The Shining," "The Stand," "The Shawshank Redemption." Big number: 53 novels and 400 million copies sold
Although King is most identified with the smalltown Maine environs of Bangor, the 65-year-old father of three boasts more film and TV credits than some of Hollywood’s most seasoned players. Ever since his first novel, Carrie, made the transition from best-seller to horror classic in 1976, King’s work has become go-to fodder for a wide range of filmmakers including Stanley Kubrick (1980’s The Shining), Rob Reiner (1986’s Stand by Me) and Frank Darabont (1994’s The Shawshank Redemption) as well as such TV networks as ABC (1994 miniseries The Stand) and Syfy (Haven, recently renewed for a fourth season). “His appeal has a lot to do with his absolute love for writing, and writing across so many different genres,” says King’s agent of 30 years, Paradigm’s Rand Holston. Although Warner Bros. and Universal passed on King’s Dark Tower series for budgetary reasons, the author has more than a dozen other properties in various stages of development and production, including the John Cusack vehicle Cell and The Breathing Method, with Paranormal Activity producer Jason Blum attached. And Carrie returns to the screen in 2013 with Chloe Grace Moretz in the title role. As is often the case with King, there will be blood.
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