History Trivia / Misery

** Annie breaking Paul's legs gets even more horrifying given then--13-year-old Thad Phillip's 1995 ordeal at the hands of Joe Clark--kidnapped and held prisoner for 43 hours while Clark broke the bones in his legs. Phillips finally escaped by throwing himself down the stairs and dragging himself to a phone, by which point he was within two hours of death from internal bleeding. He survived, but needed numerous surgeries and walks with a limp to this day. [[note]] And he was the ''lucky'' one--Clark ''murdered'' two other boys in this manner[[/note]]

** To King's ''Literature/TheShining''. Though never mentioned by name, Annie makes a clear reference to the Overlook Hotel and Jack Torrance, stating that one of her victims was in Colorado to make sketches of the ruins of an old hotel that had been burned down by the caretaker, who had gone insane.

** In his book "Literature/OnWriting" King admits that when he first started writing ''Misery'', he expected that it would [[DownerEnding end]] with Annie [[TheHeroDies murdering]] Paul and [[GenuineHumanHide using his skin]] to bind the completed manuscript of ''Misery's Return'' and feeding his remains [[FedToPigs to her pig]]. This was also because he'd envisioned it as a short story or novella; as it bloomed into a full novel he decided there was no way people could accept spending all that time with someone going through hell and then not seeing him finally come out on top. [[note]]This would explain the random conversation Paul and Annie have at one point regarding Annie [[FridgeHorror knowing how to bind books herself.]][[/note]]

* ReferencedBy: In the ''Literature/PrudencePenderhaus'' novel ''17 Marigold Lane'', Prudence is sneaking through the Shoosters' house, trying to find where Cassius is being held, when she remembers that Annie Wilkes had a secret cellar door. Sure enough, the Shoosters also have a hidden door in the wall that leads to the CreepyBasement where Cassius is.
* ShoutOut: To King's ''Literature/TheShining''. Though never mentioned by name, Annie makes a clear reference to the Overlook Hotel and Jack Torrance, stating that one of her victims was in Colorado to make sketches of the ruins of an old hotel that had been burned down by the caretaker, who had gone insane.

* CreatorChosenCasting: Creator/WilliamGoldman recommended Creator/KathyBates for Annie Wilkes. He claimed that she was their first and only choice.

* CreatorBacklash: Although Creator/StephenKing has said he really likes the film adaptation, he said once that he never really liked the casting of Creator/JamesCaan as Paul Sheldon.

** The role of Paul Sheldon was rejected by almost everyone in Hollywood because the role of Annie overshadowed him. Creator/WarrenBeatty[[note]] Who commented that hobbling scene made him look like a loser for the rest of the film[[/note]], Creator/RobertDeNiro, Creator/RichardDreyfuss, Creator/HarrisonFord, Creator/MorganFreeman, Creator/MelGibson, Creator/GeneHackman, Creator/DustinHoffman[[note]] Who doesn't like violent films[[/note]], Creator/WilliamHurt (being offered the role twice), Creator/KevinKline, Creator/BillMurray, Creator/JackNicholson[[note]]Who was wary about doing another Creator/StephenKing film after his experience on ''Film/TheShining''[[/note]], Creator/AlPacino, Creator/RobertRedford, Creator/DenzelWashington, Creator/RobinWilliams and Creator/BruceWillis[[note]]He would later star in the stage version[[/note]] all turned it down, while Creator/JeffDaniels, Creator/EdHarris, Creator/JohnHeard, Creator/EdONeill and Creator/JohnRitter were also considered.

* StarMakingRole: For Creator/KathyBates.

** The role of Paul Sheldon was rejected by almost everyone in Hollywood because the role of Annie overshadowed him. Creator/WarrenBeatty[[note]] Who commented that hobbling scene made him look like a loser for the rest of the film[[/note]], Creator/RobertDeNiro, Creator/RichardDreyfuss, Creator/HarrisonFord, Creator/MorganFreeman, Creator/MelGibson, Creator/GeneHackman, Creator/DustinHoffman[[note]] Who doesn't like violent films[[/note]], Creator/WilliamHurt, Creator/KevinKline, Creator/BillMurray, Creator/JackNicholson[[note]]Who was wary about doing another Creator/StephenKing film after his experience on ''Film/TheShining''[[/note]], Creator/AlPacino, Creator/RobertRedford, Creator/DenzelWashington, Creator/RobinWilliams and Creator/BruceWillis[[note]]He would later star in the stage version[[/note]] all turned it down, while Creator/JeffDaniels, Creator/EdHarris, Creator/JohnHeard, Creator/EdONeill and Creator/JohnRitter were also considered.

** According to Bates, Caan is naturally quite athletic and hates having to sit still for long periods of time. His character's growing frustration about having to remain bedridden is very much Caan's own.

* PlayingAgainstType: Creator/JamesCaan is best known for playing tough guys, but here he plays a meek author who relies on his intelligence and wits.

* ApprovalOfGod: Creator/StephenKing named this as one his ten favourite adaptations of his own works.

* CreatorBacklash: Minor example. Although Creator/StephenKing has said he really likes the film adaptation, he said once that he never really liked the casting of Creator/JamesCaan as Paul Sheldon.