As production continues on Mr. Harrigan’s Phone, Deadline brings word that Mare of Easttown actor Joe Tippett has been tapped to join Donald Sutherland and Jaeden Martell in Netflix and Blumhouse’s upcoming film adaptation of Stephen King’s novella from his 2020 collection If It Bleeds. Tippett is set to portray the role of the father to Martell’s character, who is raising his son alone following the death of his wife. The project is currently eyeing a 2022 debut.
The 39-year-old actor is currently appearing in Apple TV+’s The Morning Show Season 2. He will next be seen in the upcoming musical comedy film Spirited starring alongside Will Ferrell, Ryan Reynolds, and Octavia Spencer.
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Described as in the same tone as Stand By Me, Mr. Harrigan’s Phone follows the story of a young boy in Maine as he befriends an old and retired billionaire named Mr. Harrigan, who first bonded together through an iPhone. When Mr. Harrigan dies, the teen puts the phone in his pal’s pocket before burial and when the lonely youth leaves his dead friend a message, he is shocked to get a return text from beyond the grave.
The project was first announced more than a year ago after Netflix, Blumhouse Productions and Emmy-winning creator Ryan Murphy (American Horror Story) had teamed up to acquire the film rights to the horror short story.
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The film adaptation of Mr. Harrigan’s Phone will be written and directed by John Lee Hancock (The Blind Side, Saving Mr. Banks). It is being produced by Murphy, Jason Blum, and Carla Hacken, with Chris McCumber, Jeremy Gold, and Scott Greenberg to executive produce.
