‘Pet Sematary’ Role Was Rewritten for Actor and Double Hand Amputee John W. Lawson

Variety reports Friday evening that “actor, disability-inclusion advocate and double hand amputee” John W. Lawson (“American Horror Story”) has been cast as “Stanny” in Paramount Players’ untitled Pet Sematary prequel.

“I have myoelectric hands… or what people commonly call ‘cyborg,’” Lawson jokes to the site. “But most of the time, it’s just my hooks.”

Variety adds: “This news makes the Pet Sematary prequel one of the first major horror fiction films to cast a double amputee in a starring role.”

Interestingly, Paramount revealed that, in the script, Stanny was not originally without hands. After Lawson auditioned, the role was rewritten to suit him.

Lawson auditioned twice before hearing that new scenes had been written for the character. “And when I got the new sides,” he told Variety, “they had completely written the role for the character to be an amputee. Which was freakin’ awesome. Because it was not [an amputee role before] in any way. That, to me, was a real turning point, not only in casting, but in the mindset of Hollywood.”

Director Lindsey Beer told Variety: “John’s audition portrayed a layered range of both aggressiveness and vulnerability. His character is hiding a secret, and has led a difficult life that puts him on the offensive with our main character, young Jud Crandall. But underneath the bluster, Stanny is someone in search of connection, and he wants to tell our hero Jud the truth. [Lawson’s] performance really brought humanity and nuance to the role.”

You can read more over at the aforementioned link.

Production is currently underway on the untitled Pet Sematary prequel that will stream exclusively on Paramount Plus.

Lawson joins a cast that includes Jackson White, Forrest Goodluck, Jack Mulhern, Natalie Alyn Lind, Isabella Star LeBlanc, Henry Thomas, Samantha Mathis, and Pam Grier.

Paramount Plus should see the new Paranormal Activity released before the end of the year.