CBS is giving Stephen King fans a Christmas gift in the form of The Stand. The long-awaited adaptation, which was written and directed by Josh Boone (The Fault in Our Stars, The New Mutants). The new miniseries will debut on CBS All Access on December 17. The series consists of eight episodes, which will drop once a week following the premiere every Thursday.

The Stand remains one of Stephen King's most cherished works. Originally published in 1978, the hulking, post-apocalyptic novel is a highpoint in the author's long, storied career. King was quite involved with this new adaptation, penning the final episode that will include a new ending. Josh Boone directed the first and final episodes. Boone co-wrote the adaptation with Benjamin Cavell, who also serves as showrunner. Cavell had this to say about it.

"During the two years we spent making 'The Stand,' we all felt the responsibility of adapting what may be the most beloved work of one of the world's most beloved storytellers, but none of us could have imagined that Stephen King's 40-year-old masterpiece about a global pandemic would come to be so eerily relevant. We're honored to tell this sprawling, epic story, including a new coda that Stephen King has wanted to add for decades. We're so proud of this show and its attempt to find meaning and hope in the most uncertain of times. We can't wait to share it with the world."

CBS All Access released a new poster for the miniseries along with the release date. The adaptation has lined up a stacked A-list cast. It includes Jovan Adepo as Larry Underwood, Owen Teague as Harold Lauder, Brad William Henke as Tom Cullen, Daniel Sunjata as Cobb, Amber Heard as Nadine Cross, Odessa Young as Frannie Goldsmith, Henry Zaga as Nick Andros and James Marsden (Westworld) as Stu Redman. Alexander Skarsgard is on board as the villainous Randall Flagg, with Whoopi Goldberg playing Mother Abigail. Marilyn Manson will also appear.

The Stand picks up after a virus wipes out most of the world's population. In the aftermath, survivors choose between following an elderly woman or the dark man, Randall Flagg, who has set up his command post in Las Vegas. The two factions end up on opposite sides of an epic clash between the forces of good and evil.

This is not the first time that The Stand has made its way to the small screen. A previous adaptation, also done as a miniseries, was released in 1994. That version was met with a somewhat mixed response. The difference now is that Stephen King has become a huge name in Hollywood over the past few years, in no small part thanks to the success of IT. This is poised to be a high-profile TV event to help close out 2020 and welcome 2021. We'll be sure to keep you posted as further details are made available. You can check out the new poster from the official CBS All Access Twitter account.

The Stand 2020 poster