Stephen King’s most memorable film cameo defies expectations by stepping outside the horror genre. In Josh Boone’s debut film, Stuck in Love, rather than appearing on screen, King lends his voice in a moment that celebrates the profound power of writing and personal connection. This 2012 romantic dramedy weaves together stories of complicated family relationships and the enduring impact of literature, showcasing King’s influence beyond his usual terrifying tales.
The Unique Nature of King’s Cameo in Stuck in Love
The cameo occurs through a phone call from King to Rusty, a character who idolizes the author, signaling an intimate and heartfelt moment rather than a frightful one. Rusty, portrayed as a devoted Stephen King fan, receives a call late in the film from the real-life author praising one of his short stories. Samantha, Rusty’s sister and an emerging novelist, submitted his story to King’s longtime publisher, Scribner. King’s phone message reveals that he not only enjoyed the story but submitted it to The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction himself, marking a scene charged with warmth and encouragement.
This brief exchange captivates viewers by underlining how deeply meaningful creative passions can be. For director Josh Boone, it is a recreation of his own youthful experiences with King’s work, adding a personal layer to the film’s texture. Boone recalls reading King’s books as an adolescent, resisting his family’s strict religious beliefs. This personal tie is evident in the cameo’s significance, offering a glimpse of Stephen King’s influence as a source of inspiration that transcends genre boundaries.
Josh Boone’s Early Connection to Stephen King and Its Influence on His Film
Boone recounts his childhood years during the late 1980s and early 1990s, when he was 11 or 12 years old and obsessively read King’s books despite parental disapproval. His mother burned his hidden collection of King novels, but Boone’s fascination persisted. He even sent a package—including a letter and copies of the first three Dark Tower books—to King using a FedEx code borrowed without permission.
King responded to Boone’s letter by writing a personalized message across the pages of his books, a gesture Boone describes as
“the most beautiful letter a kid could ever get from their hero.”
Boone vividly remembers the moment his father revealed the package from King, which marked a defining experience for the young aspiring writer.
This meaningful interaction laid the groundwork for Boone’s dedication to storytelling, later culminating in including King’s voice in Stuck in Love. Boone describes the moment when he found out King agreed to participate as unforgettable. He flew to Florida to record King’s cameo at the location where the author records his audiobooks, sharing time with King and even previewing parts of the movie together. Boone stresses that despite common warnings about meeting one’s idols, King surpassed expectations, describing him as
“a really kind, lovely, good person.”
King’s Continued Collaboration with Boone Beyond the Cameo
The relationship between Boone and King extended well beyond the single cameo. After Stuck in Love, Boone directed a miniseries adaptation of King’s seminal novel The Stand, with King himself writing the final episode. Boone notes the personal significance of the book, especially given his upbringing in a religious household, where themes of God and the devil fascinated him deeply.
The timing of the miniseries premiere added an eerie layer to its narrative about a deadly virus, coinciding with the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Boone found the coincidence unsettling, noting the show’s plot mirrored real-world fears, thankfully without the same devastating consequences of King’s fictional “Captain Trips.”
Boone’s Ongoing Career and King’s Subtle Influence
Currently, Josh Boone is preparing for the release of Regretting You, a film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s novel starring Allison Williams, Dave Franco, McKenna Grace, and Mason Thames. Boone reveals that King’s presence remains woven into his work, as he slipped a subtle Stephen King reference into this new movie for attentive viewers to find.
I even got a little Stephen King gag in Regretting You,
Boone says.
It’s there if somebody sees it.
— Josh Boone, Director
While Boone’s projects span various genres, his deep admiration for King and the impact the author had on his storytelling continues, demonstrating how meaningful influences can shape a creator’s journey over decades.
Stuck in Love is presently streaming on Peacock, along with Stephen King’s A Good Marriage and all three seasons of Mr. Mercedes, offering viewers multiple ways to explore the author’s work in film and television.
