Jake Epping

Lore & Background

Jake Epping is a recently divorced English teacher from Lisbon, Maine. His long-time friend Al Templeton presents him with the chance to travel back in time to 1960. Al persuades Jake into going in an attempt to prevent the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963. Once in the past, Jake becomes attached to the life he makes there, which could be the mission's undoing. He must find a way to secretly gather information about people and events leading up to the assassination while also creating and maintaining a new life to avoid suspicion. The series was developed by Bridget Carpenter, who also executive produced along with J. J. Abrams, King, and Bryan Burk. James Franco portrays Jake Epping. Franco contacted King about adapting the novel to film only to be told that Abrams had already acquired the rights. Franco wrote an essay about the book for Vice, which was noticed by Abrams, and tweeted about his disappointment at not getting the film rights, which was noticed by Bridget Carpenter. Soon after, they offered him the lead role. He accepted the role under the condition that he would be able to direct part of the series.

In Their Own Story

The air in the diner smelled of stale coffee and grease, a scent that had haunted Jake for weeks since he first stepped through the door. He sat at the counter, watching Sadie wipe down the Formica, her laughter echoing like a bell in a quiet church. Outside, the year was 1963, but inside his chest, the weight of two worlds pressed against his ribs. He knew that if he succeeded, this moment would never have happened; she would be someone else's wife, or perhaps no one at all. The phone on the wall buzzed—a reminder from Al that time was running out. Jake looked at Sadie, then at the door behind him, knowing that to save a president, he might have to lose everything he had ever loved.

Reader's Guide

Jake Epping is a recently divorced English teacher from Lisbon, Maine. He is presented with the chance to travel back in time to 1960 by his long-time friend Al Templeton. He is persuaded into going in an attempt to prevent the assassination of United States President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963. However, he becomes attached to the life he makes in the past, which could be the mission's undoing. He must find a way to secretly gather information about people and events leading up to the assassination while also creating and maintaining a new life to avoid suspicion. James Franco portrays Jake Epping in the television miniseries. Franco contacted King about adapting the novel to film only to be told that Abrams had already acquired the rights. Franco wrote an essay about the book for Vice, which was noticed by Abrams, and tweeted about his disappointment at not getting the film rights, which was noticed by Bridget Carpenter. Soon after, they offered him the lead role. He accepted the role under the condition that he would be able to direct part of the series.

Did You Know?

• Jake Epping is portrayed by James Franco in the Hulu miniseries.
• Franco first contacted Stephen King about adapting the novel to film, but was told J. J. Abrams had already acquired the rights.
• Franco accepted the lead role under the condition that he would be able to direct part of the series.
• The series premiered on Hulu on February 15, 2016.
• The series consists of eight episodes.