Unmade Stephen King Western: The Shotgunners Almost Became a Sam Peckinpah Masterpiece

As a film enthusiast, I can’t help but ponder over the fact that “The Regulators” by Stephen King remains unadapted for the big screen. Imagine if Western legend Sam Peckinpah were at the helm! The 1980s were a golden era for King adaptations, with iconic films such as Carrie, The Shining, and John Carpenter’s Christine gracing our cinemas one after another.

Indeed, since the late 1970s, it’s rare to find a time when one of Stephen King’s novels hasn’t been translated to either the big or small screen. However, given his immense productivity, there remains a significant number of his books yet to be adapted.

As a movie enthusiast delving into the world of Stephen King’s uncharted territory, I must highlight some intriguing tales yet to grace our screens. Among them are “Revival”, where the blurred lines between life and death take center stage; “The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon”, a survival story that tests one’s wits against nature; and “Insomnia”, a chilling exploration of sleepless nights and their terrifying consequences.

One peculiar title that stands out is “The Regulators”, which can be seen as an extension of the gripping narrative presented in “Desperation”. If adapted, these novels promise to enthrall us with their unique blend of suspense, horror, and human drama.

Under the pen name Richard Bachman, Stephen King wrote “The Regulators,” a story where a peaceful suburban community is under attack by a band of ruthless killers armed with shotguns. This novel exhibits a unique and innovative approach, as it was initially conceived from an unrealized screenplay titled “The Shotgunners.

Western Icon Sam Peckinpah Almost Turned Stephen King’s The Shotgunners Into A Movie

The Wild Bunch icon wanted to make King’s Horror Western a reality

Reflecting on the remarkable roster of directors who helmed early adaptations of King’s works, it’s fascinating to consider the likes of Brian De Palma, Stanley Kubrick, David Cronenberg, and others. Interestingly, Sam Peckinpah was nearly part of that esteemed group when he discussed adapting “The Shotgunners” into a film with King.

King penned the screenplay for “The Shotgunners” in just a week’s intense writing spree, similar to how he wrote “The Running Man” under his pseudonym Richard Bachman. At first, it received minimal attention when King tried to sell it, but Peckinpah saw it as his next project following the 1983 thriller “The Osterman Weekend “, through Joseph B. Mauceri.

Initially, I had an old screenplay titled “The Shotgunners” which I penned approximately five years ago. This work was written in a frenzy over the course of a week, yet it remained unappreciated. However, Sam appreciated it and offered valuable suggestions for improvement. This sparked my idea to revisit the script and potentially revise it with a fresh perspective.

In his writing, King doesn’t delve into the specific distinctions between The Shotgunners and The Regulators, but given the strong link between this story and Desperation, they probably just had a similar premise of being under siege.

Regrettably, Peckinpah’s strenuous lifestyle took its toll before King could complete a second draft, as the director passed away in December 1984. Consequently, King opted to store the screenplay away, leaving it untouched for approximately ten years.

Sam Peckinpah Changed Westerns With The Wild Bunch

Peckinpah injected a darker edge into the Western genre

Peckinpah’s reputation extends beyond his directorial achievements, as he was equally notorious for his behavior off-set. This complex individual was admired for his genius yet feared for his volatile character, which was further intensified by his struggles with alcohol and drugs.

Despite producing hits such as “The Getaway,” Sam often faced difficulties in getting more films produced due to his frequent conflicts with studios and producers. His work was not only controversial but also mirrored his own contentious personality, including movies like “Straw Dogs” and “Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia.” With his masterpiece Western, “The Wild Bunch,” Sam significantly altered the genre in a short span of time.

1969’s title movie chronicles its bandit protagonists, an elderly gang executing one final heist before the Old West succumbs completely to the encroaching modern world. The film is replete with striking violence, artfully captured in mesmerizing slow motion, culminating in “The Wild Bunch” with a massive gunfight that claims the lives of nearly 100 individuals within just five minutes.

Beyond the violence, “The Wild Bunch” offers a poignant perspective on the demise of the Old West, camaraderie among perceived companions, and hardened individuals contemplating their past as they are being replaced by the new era.

Peckinpah’s masterpiece sparked intense debate when it first came out due to its vivid portrayal of brutal violence and realistic gunshot injuries. It was strongly disliked by John Wayne, and the reception from critics was divided.

Viewers might have been taken aback by the graphic violence, but it significantly shaped the trajectory of the Western genre. Following suit, films like “The Outlaw Josey Wales” and John Wayne’s “Big Jake” adopted a more cynical and unromantic portrayal of the Old West, employing techniques such as blood squibs and slow motion.

Stephen King Later Reworked The Shotgunners Into The Regulators

King’s Horror Western finally escaped the writer’s desk

On September 24, 1996, King enthusiasts were in for a double delight with the publication of not just one, but two chilling horror novels titled Desperation and The Regulators. Interestingly, these books weren’t unrelated; they shared significant connections.

In simpler terms, “The Regulators” is like an alternate version of Stephen King’s novel “Desperation,” with the same antagonist Tak and primary characters, but it tells a distinct story with different events. While “Desperation” is generally considered the better tale, “The Regulators” is interesting because it’s based on King’s original screenplay for “The Shotgunners.

King often holds onto ideas for long periods, sometimes waiting years or even decades before transforming them into novels. This is evident with “Under the Dome,” published in 2009, as he had initially started writing it in 1972.

The situation was similar with “The Regulators“, as it might have remained unpublished for all time, until King discovered a method to reinvent the idea. Moreover, linking the book to “Desperation” probably led to drastic alterations from the original concept of “The Shotgunners“, although King has never publicly discussed the significant distinctions between them.

The Regulators Has Yet To Receive A Movie Adaptation

Stephen King’s Desperation hit screens in 2006

Mick Garris, who often works with Stephen King, adapted “Desperation” into an ABC TV film in 2006. The screenplay was written by the author himself. Although it had a talented cast including Ron Perlman, Tom Skerritt, and Annabeth Gish, the movie wasn’t well-liked and was overshadowed in ratings by “American Idol”.

In a plausible scenario, the same team could have produced a sequel film based on “The Regulators“, but as per Garris (from Lilja’s Library), he held no inclination towards adapting the book into a movie.

If desperation had yielded results, it’s likely that ABC’s enthusiasm for producing one would have waned due to its poor performance. Notably, The Shotgunners was Stephen King’s first endeavor at writing an original screenplay, and after it didn’t make it to the big screen, he wouldn’t try his hand at it again until 1992 with Sleepwalkers.

This production was similarly led by Garris, yet despite cultivating its own dedicated fanbase, it doesn’t rank among the most powerful Stephen King film adaptations from the ’90s.

It’s quite intriguing to contemplate that “The Regulators” might one day transform into a grisly Horror Western, but despite rumors and updates as recent as 2022 indicating potential production, the project remains unrealized so far.

It seems that might be the optimal choice as Sam Peckinpah’s “The Shotgunners” appears to be the most compelling adaptation of that story.

2025-07-05 00:19