Ewan McGregor has been cast as the lead character in the forthcoming cinematic sequel to The Shining.
The Trainspotting actor will play Danny Torrance – son of The Shining‘s Jack – in the upcoming adaptation of Stephen King’s novel Doctor Sleep (published in 2013), which was written as the follow-up to The Shining.
McGregor will play adult Danny in the new film – Variety reports that King has given his “blessing” to the casting – with the character having been a child during the events depicted in The Shining.
The synopsis for Doctor Sleep reads: “Danny Torrance carries the trauma of the Overlook Hotel into adulthood. He’s become a reflection of his murderous father, with lingering rage and a drinking problem that dulls his pain as well as his ‘shining’ powers.
“Those powers return when he embraces sobriety and uses his gift to help the dying at a hospice. He establishes a psychic connection with a young girl who shares his extreme abilities, and who is being targeted by a group with similar abilities.
“They’ve found that their powers grow if they inhale the ‘steam’ that comes off others with the power to shine, when they are suffering painful deaths.”
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Doctor Sleep will be directed by Mike Flanagan, which is being developed by Warner. Bros. The film is currently set for release on January 24, 2020.