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2024 has already been a year of crossovers and unexpected returns and it has only been 4 months since the year started. To add another wild return in 2024,The Shawshank Redemptionstar is making a comeback!
Although the news is very good for the people, the director’s choice for a comeback has been the point of an intense discussion. As per the reports and speculations, the director is allegedly returning to direct two episodes of Netflix’sStranger ThingsSeason 5!
The Shawshank RedemptionDirector Is Returning ForStranger Things!
Back in 1994, director Frank Darabont directed the iconic filmThe Shawshank Redemptionwhich starred Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins in the lead roles. Based on Stephen King’s novella titled“Rita Haywire and Shawshank Redemption”, the film was about redemption, friendship, hope, and, trust.
Being one of the highest-rated movies on IMDB and getting nominated for seven Oscars,Frank Darabontfound worldwide fame for his role as director of the film. After taking a break from Hollywood for several years, it is alleged that Darabont may return to direct two episodes of Netflix’s popular showStranger Things.
“Somebody who broke my heart and left me for the Pilates instructor”: Frank Darabont Felt Betrayed After Being Fired from Walking Dead
‘The Shawshank Redemption’ director Frank Darabont will come out of retirement to direct 2 episodes of ‘STRANGER THINGS’ season 5.
(Source:@TheInSneider)pic.twitter.com/MfnURIOfsK
— Cinema Solace (@SolaceCinema)June 28, 2025
Although it might be good news for people, some fans are quite skeptical of Darabont and Netflix’s collaboration. WithStranger Thingsbeing a bit different than what Darabont is used to, fans took to X (formerly Twitter) to talk about howStranger Thingsdid not deserveThe Shawshank Redemptiondirector!
What a mid comeback for an absolute legend…. trash show
— Venom Cailee (The Last Dance)🕺💃 (@VietnameseVenom)June 30, 2025
That’s too bad he picked such an overrated show to come back for, dude is a legend.
— Shane (@shaneconnlly44)July 21, 2025
Does this show deserve the legend?
— resrctor (@ArpVfx)August 08, 2025
On the other hand, there are also some people who are excited about the collaboration and wish Darabont andStranger Thingsfor future excellence.
Dude directed the first 2 seasons of the walking dead and brought it to TV in the first place, I’m excited for his episodes
— SaviourFade (@SaviourFade)June 25, 2025
Hell yeah!!
— Curtis Lee Carter (@Firestarterburn)July 06, 2025
let’s gooo!!! Frank Darabont is the goat!
— ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ ಠ_ಠ (@ZacharyMitzel)June 24, 2025
“They’ll be crying”: Stephen King Assured The Shawshank Redemption Director After He Was Concerned Over 1 Major Scene in the Movie
On the other hand, Frank Darabont didn’t exactly take a break from Hollywood. The sad story behind Darabon’t career is both shocking and horrible. With unmade films, no funding, and a dream to create films, here’s the real reason why Darabont had to take a break from Hollywood.
Why Frank Darabont Took A Break From Hollywood!
DirectingThe Shawshank Redemptionwas only the second big project that director Frank Darabont had on his hands. Although the film was a box office failure at the time of its release,The Shawshank Redemptionwas nominated for seven Oscars and was the most rented movie in 1995.
Following his fame, Frank Darabont was offered multiple opportunities for several other projects. Citing creative differences or simply walking out, Darabont rejected the projects in hopes of creating something that he loved.
“In case you ever need bail money”: Stephen King Returned His $5000 to Shawshank Redemption Director After Selling the Rights
In a 2021 interview, Darabont revealed toDread Centralthat he wrote an iconic story based on the American Civil War from an unfinished draft of Stanley Kubrick. Despite all his efforts in creating the script, the director was left empty-handed.
“I spent the last year writing a script. And I know when I’m hitting on all cylinders or not. I was hitting on all cylinders. It’s a magnificent project based on a treatment that Stanley Kubrick wrote in the late ’50s—an incredible Civil War piece. It’s a very meaningful script and [when] I finished, I said, ‘This is the best thing I’ve ever done.’ And we shopped it around town and we didn’t get a single meeting.”
The Shawshank Redemption Director Refused to Cast Tom Cruise in $73M Cult Classic Even if it Meant Going Broke: “I could barely meet the rent”
So directing two episodes ofStranger ThingsSeason 5 might be a good chance forThe Shawshank Redemptiondirector for a comeback in Hollywood. Starring Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins in the lead roles,The Shawshank Redemptionreceived a rating of 9.3/10 on IMDB and a whopping 98% on Rotten Tomatoes!
The 1994 film is available to rent on Apple TV+ in the U.S.
Visarg Acharya
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3265
Visarg Acharya is a Senior Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on movies, with over 3000 articles published. He has been an entertainment journalist for the past three years and a copywriter at a corporation. Visarg usually covers news and theories on the MCU and the DCU, with an emphasis on Avengers and Superman; Game of Thrones, and more.A Tarantino fan, Visarg, spends his time critiquing various directors’ filmographies and watching them with curiosity. Medieval fantasy like The Lord of the Rings or sci-fi movies like Interstellar, watching the latest horror movies, and listening to Hans Zimmer become his comfort zone. When idle, he can be found reading fantasy novels with a terrible cup of coffee in hand.
