Mike Flanagan Shares Why He Almost Turned Down Carrie

Summary

Mike Flanagan saw potential in bringing a fresh perspective to the "Carrie" TV series, despite its previous adaptations.
The upcoming "Carrie" series will focus on themes of young adulthood and bullying, with a new approach and consideration of modern society.
As a fan of Stephen King's work, Flanagan's understanding of King's material will likely lead to a successful and unique adaptation of "Carrie."

Stephen King's Carrie is one of the darkest and most memorable classic horror movies, and fans have been curious about Mike Flanagan's take on the eerie tale. Now the filmmaker and TV showrunner is sharing what he thought when he was given the opportunity to make a Carrie TV show, along with some details on what the story will be like.

While the 1976 original directed by Brian De Palma is the most famous one, Carrie has three movie adaptations. Several years after audiences were stunned by the grim story of teenage Carrie White (Sissy Spacek), her telekenetic powers, and her evil mother Margaret (Piper Laurie), NBC released a TV film starring Angela Bettis in the title role. Then, in 2013, the disappointing Carrie remake was released, with Chloë Grace Moretz and Julianne Moore playing the mother and daughter. Now Flanagan is bringing the horror classic to the small screen.

Stephen King Thought This Underrated Sci-Fi Show From Apple Was 'Just About Perfect,' So Why Was It Canceled?

Stephen King has great TV and movie recommendations, and unfortunately, a great sci-fi show that he loves was canceled after one season.

Posts

By Aya Tsintziras

Mike Flanagan Explains Why He Almost Turned Down Amazon Prime Video's Carrie And Shares More Details

Sissy Spacek as Carrie White in Carrie (1976)

In an interview with Variety, Mike Flanagan explained his first response when Amazon asked him to make a Carrie TV series. He said:

"we’re doing the Carrie series right now, and that was one where the conversation started when Amazon proposed the show. I initially thought, 'Why? It’s been done.' And then I found an answer to that question, and it made me very excited."

Flanagan continued that when he sent the plan and show bible to Stephen King, the beloved author agreed that it was a brand new way to approach the story. King said, "I'm excited to see where this goes."

Flanagan also explained that the themes of the original Carrie movie and his TV series are the same: young adulthood and bullying. However, he didn't want to make the same film, and he wanted to ensure that the main character's journey makes sense in the current world. That meant including the impact that technology has had on society in the series. Flanagan mentioned the famous, terrifying, and haunting scene at the beginning of the original Carrie where Carrie's classmates make fun of her in the high school locker room. It's hard to think of the 1976 horror film without picturing that upsetting moment. While Flanagan didn't give away any plot details, he did say:

"it’s about much more than Carrie White. I can’t really talk about what we’re doing, I can only really talk about what we’re not doing. We’re not retelling the story as it’s been told, and we’re not making a show about telekinesis."

In another interview, the filmmaker also explained the tough nature of casting the lead, and while there was a report that Milly Shapiro would play the powerful and lonely high schooler, Summer H. Howell was cast in the main role.

Flanagan's scary, emotional, and creative horror stories make him the right person to make a Carrie TV show, and as a bonus, he's also familiar with King's work. Besides being a big fan himself, he wrote and directed the movie adaptation of King's vulnerable and haunting short story The Life of Chuck, which has a release date of June 6th, 2025. Flanagan also wrote and directed Doctor Sleep, the 2019 sequel to The Shining. His talent coupled with his understanding of King's material will no doubt make Carrie a success.

After the 2013 Carrie remake, which didn't add much to the story, fans will be relieved to hear that Flanagan's series will offer up something new. While there is no release date at this time, it sounds like this unique take on the eerie classic will be worth the wait.

Image