There’s a lot happening in my world right now, joy and sorrow, and I don’t have the spoons to write about it. But I’m having a Stand By Me moment that I wanted to share before it passes.
Yesterday, my narration of The Body by Stephen King (the novella that was adapted into Stand By Me) was released. I have wanted to do this for years, and I can’t believe I never wrote about it here. I’ll address that in the future, because it’s a cool story. Simon and Schuster, the publisher, has been super supportive and enthusiastic about this release. They gave me a whole chapter to share, and it’s at the end of this week’s1 It’s Storytime With Wil Wheaton, available now wherever you get your podcasts.
Today, I am the subject of a truly wonderful column in the New York Times that includes interactive clips from my narration, scenes from Stand By Me, and the text of the novella. It’s a beautiful piece that genuinely surprised and delighted me. And it comes just a few days after we were the subject of this incredible essay, also in the New York Times, about our Stand By Me Live tour2.
Tonight, Jerry and Corey and I are together on Entertainment Tonight3 to talk about the movie’s theatrical re-release, which starts on Friday.
I’m glad you’re here. If you’d like to get my posts delivered to your inbox, here’s the thingy:
- I had to take last week off, so we are replaying one of my favorite performances, End of Play. ↩︎
- This weekend, we are in Anaheim Friday, Seattle on Saturday (see you at No Kings, Seattle), and Portland on Sunday. Tickets are still available for all three shows. ↩︎
- In Los Angeles, that’s 7:30pm on CBS, check your local listing to be sure. ↩︎
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Hi Wil,
I downloaded the book, and will be seeing you in Portland. You are doing great work. I will have to read the articles.
Keep doing what you are doing, it is all very much appreciated.
I just bought it from libro.fm, and I can’t wait to start it.
Really looking forward to listening to The Body, Wil. I read the NYT article this morning.
So much good stuff, meaningful stuff is happening for you. I’m so happy to read all your neato keens stuff. You’ve made it so!
I would have loved to go to the screening/discussion in Seattle, but ticket prices are simply too high. Even the back of the 2nd balcony costs $75. So if anyone wonders why turnout is low….
Thank you for sharing with us, Wil. And for standing up on all fronts. I hope your shows this week are good and you have a safe trip!
It’s been so long since I read The Body. I’m looking forward to revisiting it with your reading.
Thanks for the update and the revival of happy childhood memories. You were there from STNG to the Curse and SBM…wish I could catch the shows in North West. Good luck with them and enjoy the joy!
Thanks for the link to today’s NYT column – that really was great fun to compare the film and narration. You probably (wisely) don’t read comments, but there’s a lot of warm childhood memories in the comments for that one.
No Kings in Seattle should be pretty epic! If you can squeeze it in while you’re in Portland, Sunday has a 2p matinee musical called Lizard Boy – a little sci fi, a lot of personal growth and a sweet love story, all packed into 90 min. It’s the most affirming thing ever (with a fun explanation for our Mt St Helens eruption to boot).
That’s amazing, I’m so happy for all the good things happening for you right now. I had actually never read The Body before, so I got the audiobook yesterday when it released and started listening. It’s actually really cool to experience it for the first time, listening to it being read by you. I’m so glad that you wanted to do the narration and were able to make it happen. There’s no one else who would have been able to bring the story to life.
Hi Wil, thank you so much for this post. I always appreciate you honesty andthe way you share your creative process—it’s a huge motivaition for me as I am currently edeting my own novel here in germany.
By the way I sent you a longer thank you note to your E-mail adress, about how your works helped me through a rough patch last year. No pressure to reply I just wanted to make sure you know how muchyour works mean to me and my family. Keep beeing awsome!
Samuel
Stand By Me was an awesome movie, it reminded me of being 12. It’s great to hear you’re narrating the story.
Having a really hard time NOT binge-listening to the book! Your narration is top-notch, as always. Thanks for this, Wil!
Where can your reading of The Body be purchased?
Anywhere you get your audiobooks, you should be able to find it.
What a lovely synchronicity; Richard Dreyfuss was the narrator for the film (as grown-up Gordie) and you are narrated the novella, highly praised by Stephen King. You don’t need to pinch yourself. All of it came true because of your hard work bringing you to this moment.
You are the best!!
Driving four-plus hours across the desert from Vegas on Friday, coming down to see the film Friday night in Anaheim. Bonus: group photo afterwards ( it is afterwards, correct?). I’m not ordinarily a photo fan-boy kinda guy, but this is certainly one of those benchmark life experiences. Read First saw “SBM” during opening weekend, late summer of 1986. To paraphrase the novella, four decades later that cultural river is still here. And alas…so are we.
I so love this, I will be putting in my audible wish list. I so love this for you and all of us, this is one of my favorite novella’s of his and of course a favorite movie, and the full circle moment this gives for the movie and your life, so very awesome.
Once again your writing has moved me and the NY Times article brought tears. Thank you
This is really really cool. What a time for this to all be coming together. Sometimes I feel like I’m living in a story – the world feels surreal … or dystopian. But there are threads that weave throughout it all that tie it all together like an incredible complex story written by someone else.
This is the coolest thing to find out related to being and adult now and this whole Stand By Me anniversary. Thank you. Surreal. And they paid you? Amazing!!! THE. COOLEST!!! (virtual non creepy hug) I cannot wait to listen!
I saw you at the Oscars.
I am so sorry for your loss.
And for all of our loss with the passing of such a special man.
Serendipity!!!! Definitely making the Audible wish list! Thanks for sharing the news, your feelings and tonight’s exciting news!!!!!
Darn I wish I didn’t have the flu otherwise I was planning at being at the No king’s protest. I hope you have a great protest with our wonderful people here that protest non_violentely. Congrats on everything, it was good seeing you all on ET it warmed my heart that you gentlemen are still friends.
GREAT to be Busy. Always here when you are😃
This is very exciting News!!!!!
Was traveling. Pretty remote and also got offline for a bit on purpose. Missed all of this. But it’s fun and exciting. Yay! Happy for you.
Looking forward to listening to it.
I’ll be at your Chicago show with husband and although I don’t know discord mod Josh in person (yet!) we are meeting up with him too !