While the world may be feeling increasingly bleak right now, Stephen King has asked we stop comparing the coronavirus to his post-apocalyptic masterpiece The Stand.
The author has taken to Twitter to urge for calm after multiple social media users started drawing comparisons between the deadly coronavirus and his 1978 novel. In the book, King tells the frightening tale of how an influenza strain causes an apocalyptic pandemic, with the virus killing more than 99 percent of the world's population. And while COVID-19 has now killed approximately 4,000 people worldwide and infected well over 100,000, it's nowhere near as serious as what happens in The Stand — or at least so far.
"No, coronavirus is NOT like The Stand," King tweeted. "It's not anywhere near as serious. It's eminently survivable. Keep calm and take all reasonable precautions."
The author has taken to Twitter to urge for calm after multiple social media users started drawing comparisons between the deadly coronavirus and his 1978 novel. In the book, King tells the frightening tale of how an influenza strain causes an apocalyptic pandemic, with the virus killing more than 99 percent of the world's population. And while COVID-19 has now killed approximately 4,000 people worldwide and infected well over 100,000, it's nowhere near as serious as what happens in The Stand — or at least so far.
"No, coronavirus is NOT like The Stand," King tweeted. "It's not anywhere near as serious. It's eminently survivable. Keep calm and take all reasonable precautions."
Currently, The Stand is being rebooted as a new TV mini-series. So far, there is no firm release date for the show, but in addition to featuring Marilyn Manson, the show for CBS All Access will star James Marsden, Amber Heard, Greg Kinnear, Odessa Young, Henry Zaga, Whoopi Goldberg, Jovan Adepo, Owen Teague, Brad William Henke, Daniel Sunjata, Alexander Skarsgård, Nat Wolff, Eion Bailey, Katherine McNamara, Hamish Linklater and Heather Graham.
The spread of the COVID-19 virus has already had a huge impact on the entertainment world. Late last week, SXSW was cancelled over fears of the virus, while Miami's Ultra Music Festival was also axed and the forthcoming James Bond film No Time to Die had its release delayed until November.
