Horror mastermind Mike Flanagan is set to bring another Stephen King classic to the screen with an upcoming TV adaptation of Carrie, King’s groundbreaking 1974 debut novel. While the book launched King’s legendary career, it is also the first of his works ever adapted for the screen. So, what exactly makes King’s classic such an endearing story?
The History of Carrie
In the novel, a tormented 16-year-old girl discovers terrifying telekinetic abilities and unleashes them in a devastating act of revenge at her high school prom. Despite the book’s commercial success, the iconic 1976 film adaptation cemented Stephen King’s status as a horror icon. It stands out among King’s vast bibliography as one of his most frequently revisited stories, with four adaptations including:
- Carrie – November 3, 1976
- The Rage: Carrie 2 – March 12, 1999
- Carrie – November 4, 2002
- Carrie – October 18, 2013
Although the 1976 version is considered a classic, Flanagan’s series has the opportunity to delve deeper into the novel’s often-overlooked elements. Specifically, the show can explore its chilling epistolary format and the broader implications of its haunting ending. Flanagan has proven talent for psychological horror and rich character-driven storytelling, which bodes well for Carrie as this adaptation could finally deliver the definitive take it deserves.
More Exciting News Following Carrie‘s Announcement
As the Carrie series continues to take shape, Amazon has officially greenlit the project and confirmed key casting news. According to reports, Summer H. Howell was in talks to play the iconic lead role, while the production secured Siena Agudong from Resident Evil for the pivotal part of Sue Snell, one of Carrie’s classmates. Specifically, Snell evolves from a bully into a remorseful figure who recognizes her cruelty, making her a central character in the story.
Due to being a series, Snell’s role can be expanded upon, especially if it closely follows the novel’s deeper narrative threads. With Agudong’s casting, the adaptation is closer to bringing this haunting tale to life in a fresh, compelling way. Furthermore, Mike Flanagan has firmly established himself as the foremost contemporary interpreter of Stephen King’s works. Notably, the director has delivered acclaimed adaptations like Doctor Sleep and The Life of Chuck. In October 2024, after announcing his series, Flanagan secured an official series order from Amazon by April 2025. That said, the project is set to stream exclusively on Prime Video.
Currently, specific plot details have yet to be released, but in November 2024, Mike Flanagan confirmed that Carrie‘s development was his next priority. In addition to this highly anticipated adaptation, he’ll return for another ambitious King project: the long-awaited series adaptation of The Dark Tower. With these two series, the director further solidifies his reputation as the go-to filmmaker for bringing King’s most complex stories to life.
Plot Details for New Series
Since the novel’s debut fifty years ago, Hollywood has repeatedly revisited Carrie, with each adaptation leaving room for fresh interpretation. Mike Flanagan’s upcoming series seems to follow the novel’s core premise: a sheltered teenager awakening to terrifying telekinetic abilities. Interestingly, this extended format offers opportunities that previous films couldn’t explore.
The story follows Carrie White, who is isolated under her fanatical mother’s control, and must navigate high school cruelty and burgeoning powers after her father’s death. However, Flanagan’s version is unlike past adaptations as it can finally delve into the novel’s tantalizing suggestion of other telekinetics existing beyond Carrie, an idea every prior film ignored.
The Carrie Series Offers Fresh Opportunities
The 2002 TV movie awkwardly altered the ending, yet Flanagan’s series may use its episodic structure to deepen character dynamics and amplify pivotal moments. Although feature films inevitably condensed King’s narrative, a series can preserve every nuance. Not only that, but it can also expand on subtle novel threads, including the town’s oppressive atmosphere and the psychological toll of Carrie’s isolation. Ultimately, this approach has the potential to be the most comprehensive its adaptation as it can both honor the source material and uncover new dimensions in its haunting story.
