A planned film adaptation of Stephen King's classic horror The Stand is one step closer to the big screen after director Josh Boone entered talks to take on the long-delayed project.

Harry Potter moviemaker David Yates had initially been tasked with taking the 1978 novel to the big screen, but he stepped down in 2011 and Ben Affleck was subsequently attached to the film.

However, he walked away from The Stand last year (13), as did his replacement, Scott Cooper.

The Bourne Supremacy's Paul Greengrass was the last big name linked to the job, but now studio executives at Warner Bros. have tapped Boone to bring the project to fruition.

The Stuck In Love filmmaker, who also made Shailene Woodley's upcoming drama The Fault in Our Stars, is currently in negotiations to rewrite the script and take charge as director.

The Stand was previously turned into a 1994 Tv mini-series starring Gary Sinise, Rob Lowe and Molly Ringwald.