The Stand: First trailer released for new miniseries adaptation of Stephen King’s pandemic novel

New series stars Whoopi Goldberg, Alexander Skarsgård, James Marsden, and more

A first trailer has been released for The Stand, an upcoming miniseries adaptation of Stephen King’s pandemic novel of the same name.

In the show, much like in King’s 1978 book, Earth is almost wiped out by a virus, leaving just a few survivors to decide on the fate of humanity.

The new trailer, unveiled on Friday as part of New York Comic Con, features Alexander Skarsgård as villain Randall Flagg, as well as Whoopi Goldberg as the wise Mother Abagail.

“The world is now a blank page. Make your stand,” Goldberg narrates.

Several characters are then see joining the Boulder Free Zone, a new community established by survivors in Colorado – but Flagg’s “lethal smile and unspeakable powers” loom.

In addition to Skarsgård and Goldberg, The Stand features James Marsden, Odessa Young, Jovan Adepo, and more.

The miniseries will premiere on 17 December on CBS All Access.

The programme is the second miniseries adaptation of The Stand. The first, starring Gary Sinise, Molly Ringwald, and Jamey Sheridan, came out in 1994.

The Stand, like the 2011 movie Contagion, has received renewed attention due to the coronavirus pandemic. Back in March, King shared a chapter from the novel to illustrate how viruses spread.

The author has also said he’s sorry for all the people who have felt stuck in one of his novels since the pandemic started.