Stephen King’s Billy Summers Is a Crime Story That’s Still Unmade

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I’ve been a huge fan of Stephen King for years! He’s just incredibly productive – ever since his first book, Carrie, came out back in 1974, he’s consistently been at the top of the bestseller lists. What I love is how many of his stories – novels, shorter works, everything – have been adapted for the screen. It’s amazing to see his imagination come to life in so many different movies and series, and even remakes keep coming out because his stories are just that good!

I’ve been a huge Stephen King fan for years, and while he’s known for horror, some of his most amazing stories really step outside that box – like The Green Mile and The Shawshank Redemption. I was so excited when his crime novel, Billy Summers, came out in August 2021. Everyone thought it would be made into a movie pretty quickly, but it’s been almost five years now and we still haven’t seen any adaptation on screen, which is a little disappointing!

Billy Summers is Yet Another Iconic Stephen King Crime Story

The novel Billy Summers centers around the protagonist, a former Marine who works as a hitman, but with a strict set of principles. Billy only accepts jobs targeting truly awful people – those he believes the world is better off without. This makes him similar to popular, morally complex characters like Frank Castle (the Punisher), Dexter Morgan, and Hannibal Lecter. While some take pleasure in killing, they all share the common goal of eliminating even more dangerous individuals.

Given how well-loved Stephen King’s characters are and the great response to the novel itself, a movie or series based on Billy Summers feels like a natural fit. Similar to the success of The Shawshank Redemption, this story plays to King’s strengths. Critics have widely praised the book, with many calling it one of his best novels in recent years.

Although Billy Summers shares traits with characters from other well-known books, the story is unlike anything else. Billy, a professional hitman, is offered a high-paying job by his boss, Nick Majarian, before Nick retires. The job: eliminate Joel Allen, another hitman currently in jail for killing a man over a poker loss. Rumor has it Joel possesses valuable information he intends to trade to the police for a lighter sentence, and Billy is hired to prevent that from happening.

Billy starts to suspect Nick isn’t being honest, noticing he’s taking an unusually large role in planning the crime and the getaway. Distrustful of Nick, Billy creates a new identity for himself as a traveling writer trying to meet a deadline, and deliberately distances himself from Nick as a safety measure. Billy’s suspicions prove correct: as soon as the job is finished, he discovers a hit has been put out on him, which is exactly what he feared.

As the story unfolds, Billy begins writing a novel, a fictionalized account of his own life. Through this book, readers gradually learn the tragic details of his past: the murder of his sister by his mother’s boyfriend, his act of revenge, and his subsequent years in foster care before joining the military. Writing becomes a genuine passion for Billy, and a way for him to process and deal with the trauma he’s experienced.

Billy Summers Features an Unconventional Romance

As the story progresses, Billy encounters Alice Maxwell, who quickly realizes he’s the man who shot Joel. However, Alice has just experienced a violent attack, and Billy ends up saving her from the men who assaulted her. Some believe Alice’s storyline is what would make adapting Billy Summers into a film extremely difficult. The details of the abuse she endures are intensely graphic, and the subsequent revenge she takes on her attackers is even more so.

I’m really drawn to Billy’s character because he’s so thorough – he investigates everything. It’s fascinating, even though he’s a killer himself, because he genuinely wants to make the world a better place by getting rid of evil. And it was interesting to watch his relationship with Alice develop, even with such a big age gap between them. They really connected throughout the story.

What makes Billy Summers so special is the relationship between Billy and Alice. While it might seem unconventional to some, their connection goes beyond a simple romance. They offer each other genuine care, trust, and a path toward healing from past hurts. Their beautiful and supportive dynamic provides a striking contrast to the violence in the story, demonstrating that love can blossom in unexpected places and remains one of the most powerful forces in life.

While Billy’s unusual connection with Alice is a key part of Billy Summers, the novel delves into much darker territory. It’s a story exploring violence, genuine evil, betrayal, and the struggle to overcome a troubled past. Be aware that it contains difficult and disturbing content, including sexual assault, the exploitation of children, and many violent deaths – some of which are particularly devastating.

Billy Summers is a Powerful Story That Still Hasn’t Been Adapted

As a film buff, I think adapting this story would be tricky, no doubt, but absolutely doable. We’ve seen a lot of movies and shows tackle similar, weighty themes with mixed results. Honestly, it surprises me that Billy Summers hasn’t been turned into a film or series yet – it feels like a missed opportunity.

In 2022, Bad Robot announced plans to create a limited series based on the novel. They had previously adapted other Stephen King works, including the series Castle Rock (2018-2019). However, in 2023, Warner Bros. acquired the rights and decided to make a feature film instead. J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot and Leonardo DiCaprio’s Appian Way are reportedly producing the movie, but there hasn’t been much news about its progress so far.

As of January, Warner Bros. is still planning a movie adaptation of Billy Summers, but the project hasn’t moved forward in three years. This raises the question of why it’s been stuck in development for so long. The novel is relatively short for a Stephen King story and offers a gripping, character-driven plot that’s likely to resonate with audiences. Given its similarities to other successful films and shows, it’s surprising the movie hasn’t been made yet.

I truly believe now is the moment to really highlight Billy Summers. With Dexter Morgan back in the spotlight thanks to the recent series and the ongoing Dexter: Resurrection, it’s clear people are still obsessed with characters like Billy. It just proves how much audiences love anti-heroes and complex characters who aren’t simply good or bad – we want to see more of them!

Stephen King is more popular than ever, and 2025 was a huge year for his work with adaptations of several stories, including The Monkey, The Life of Chuck, The Long Walk, The Running Man, The Institute on MGM+, and IT: Welcome to Derry on HBO Max. Now seems like the perfect time to finally make Billy Summers into a film or series, although figuring out the best way to tell the story has been a challenge, despite the compelling plot being readily available.

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2026-02-09 03:10