"The Life of Chuck" Trailer: Tom Hiddleston Navigates the Meaning of Life in Mike Flanagan’s Life-Affirming Drama Based on Stephen King’s Short Story

Flanagan adapts King’s short story into an emotional, life-affirming journey through the moments that define us, with Hiddleston leading the way as an ordinary man with an extraordinary impact.

Is the world getting you down? Do you have this insufferable weight on your chest, a pressure of uncertainty and anxiety that you’re hoping could be lifted soon? As each day goes by, we hear more and more troubling news about how our world might be declining in ways that we can’t even recognize ourselves anymore. Who have we become? Or perhaps, the better question: who can make sense of this world?

Stephen Frickin' King, that’s who!

The horror master has reach beyond a cultural resurgence these days. He’s now considered one of America’s greatest modern writers. And while he’s best known for horror and suspense, capable of spinning an exhilarating yarn dripping with fear and dread, it doesn’t mean Stephen King is slacking when it comes to exploring the existential and the depths of the human soul.

In a world today where everything feels like a horror show, King might just be the voice we need to make sense of it. And filmmaker Mike Flanagan might be the perfect cinematic storyteller to bring King’s vision to life on the screen. After all, Flanagan has successfully adapted a number of King’s works for film before. Gerald's Game and Doctor Sleep were both based on King’s novels, and both films became critical hits for Flanagan, showcasing his ability to get to the core of King’s dark themes and emotional depth.

But with The Life of Chuck, Flanagan’s latest adaptation of Stephen King’s work, this time adapting a short story from King’s 2020 collection If It Bleeds, the aim isn’t to terrify audiences or strike fear into the hearts of moviegoers, but to move them and lift their spirits. This time, Flanagan trades in terror for reflection, with an emotional exploration into the everyday struggles and joys of a single life.

Dare we say, the master of horror, King, and one of the most prominent horror filmmakers working today, Flanagan, have just made a life-affirming movie that is so rich with poignant moments of emotional resonance that it could offer us a little hope when we need it most? Now, that’s scary to believe. But it might be very true.

Tom Hiddleston stars as the titular “Chuck,” Charles Krantz, a seemingly ordinary businessman with a surprising habit of breaking into dance now and then. The film unfolds in three acts, each set during a different period of Chuck’s life. And from what we understand, the film is also told in reverse chronological order.

Hiddleston is joined by Jacob Tremblay, Benjamin Pajak, and Cody Flanagan, each portraying Chuck at a different stage in his life as he interacts with various characters at various times. Chuck’s lost love (played by Annalise Basso), his Jewish grandparents (Mark Hamill and Mia Sara), a schoolteacher (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a doctor (Karen Gillan), all play a part in the greater world that surrounds him.

There also seems to be a mystery surrounding who Chuck really is, as mysterious billboards are plastered around town —both in the film and as a promotional stunt around Los Angeles (see image below) —with the words “Charles Krantz: 39 Great years, Thanks Chuck!”

But who Chuck is might not be the point. He may simply serve as an avatar for this existential story—a reminder that life is fleeting, and if we don’t stop or slow down to smell the roses, or break into a spontaneous dance spin, we might just miss the beauty in the ordinary. And when, and if, the world does go to hell in a handbasket, maybe those small, joyful moments are the only things worth holding onto.

Following its debut last year at the Toronto International Film Festival, where it received mostly positive reviews despite being a notable departure for filmmaker Mike Flanagan, The Life of Chuck features a stellar supporting cast that includes Matthew Lillard, Harvey Guillén, Kate Siegel, Heather Langenkamp, David Dastmalchian, Hamish Linklater, and many more. Meanwhile, Nick Offerman lends his distinctive voice as the film’s narrator.

Acquired by Neon Films, the same studio behind the Oscar-winning Anora, The Life of Chuck will open in select cities on June 6 before expanding nationwide on June 13.

And for those interested in reading Stephen King’s short story on which the film is based, click the image below.