Mike Flanagan is about to offer Stephen King fans a fresh take on Carrie with an upcoming limited series more than five decades after the horror icon’s debut novel, breaking his strict no remakes or sequels rule.
Amazon’s upcoming Carrie limited series goes against Flanagan’s reluctance to revisit stories that have already been told or add on to them. Despite Carrie having inspired multiple films and even a stage musical since its 1974 release, the director still made an exception to his rule.
In an interview with Empire Magazine, Flanagan revealed the reason why he’s willing to create a TV show based on Carrie, even though it has been adapted several times before. The director explained that he found a way to tell the story that would explore new territory. It would also allow him to approach it from a different and modern angle.
A new way presented itself, something that felt very timely and new.
This is not the first King story that Flanagan has broken his golden rule for. He adapted Doctor Sleep, a sequel to The Shining, in 2019. He said that the original film was more or less about addiction, while its follow-up is about recovery, so he couldn’t help but adapt it and complete the story.
He added that Doctor Sleep was the story that changed his mind. The director said the project made him realize that it is possible to create something new out of something old. He admitted that it essentially debunked his original beliefs about sequels and remakes.
I’ve really enjoyed chasing the things that hadn’t already been done, and trying to find new ways into them. And I used to say, ‘No sequels,’ that [Doctor Sleep] threw that in my face.
It proved to be irresistible. The Shining is a story about alcoholism, and because Steve wrote this sequel of sorts, that is a story about recovery. It presented this thing of, ‘Oh, we’re painting the second side of the same coin; we’re completing a story.
The new Carrie series is about a socially awkward teenager who is raised by her controlling and very religious mother. After being bullied relentlessly, the titular character begins to use her telekinetic powers.
The series will be led by Summer Howell as Carrie. Starring alongside her are Matthew Lillard (Principal Grayle), Samantha Sloyan (Margaret White), Alison Thornton (Chris Hargensen), Thalia Dudek (Emaline), Siena Agudong (Sue Snell), Amber Midthunder (Miss Desjardin), Josie Totah (Tina), Arthur Conti (Billy), and Joel Oulette (Tommy).
There is currently no official release date for Carrie at the time of this article’s publication.
Summer H. Howell
Carrie White
Matthew Lillard
Principal Grayle
Samantha Sloyan
Margaret White