"The Life of Chuck" hits German theaters on July 24. Instead of horror, this Stephen King adaptation focuses on an emotional message that resonates long after viewing.

From adaptations of his own books to TV shows like The Simpsons and Frasier, Stephen King has a substantial number of ...

FILE - Stephen King, left, and Mike Flanagan appear at the premiere of "The Life of Chuck" during the Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto on Sept. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File) ...

Mike Flanagan directs The Life of Chuck as well as adapting King’s story for the screen. There’s no doubt Flanagan and King have found a cosmic philosophy through-line in their shared writings.

For a beloved horror author, Stephen King has inspired a surprising number of non-genre classics. The Life of Chuck has its eyes on that prize.

ARCHIVO - Stephen King, a la izquierda, y Mike Flanagan aparecen en el estreno de "The Life of Chuck" durante el Festival Internacional de Cine de Toronto en Toronto el 6 de septiembre de 2024.

There is dancing, Walt Whitman and joy. “In ‘The Life of Chuck,’ we understand that this guy’s life is cut short, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t experience joy,” says King.

King, himself, just finished a draft of “Talisman 3.” If “The Life of Chuck” has particular meaning to King, it could be because it represents something intrinsic about his own life.

"The Life of Chuck," which won the People's Choice Award last fall at the Toronto International Film Festival, is after a similar spirit. When King reached out about attending the TIFF world ...