‘Carrie’: Mike Flanagan’s Remake of the Stephen King Horror Classic Sets October Premiere!!

Few writers have the success and longevity enjoyed by horror writer Stephen King. With over 60 novels and 200 short stories to his name, King has proven himself as a writer, especially in the horror genre. He started writing as a teenager, but his first book wasn’t published until 1974. In another medium, another creative has been proving himself, becoming one of the most recognizable names in the horror genre. Mike Flanagan has built a reputation for creating engaging horror stories that go beyond the gore and loud noises. His Netflix horror output of the last several years remains the streamer’s best. Now these two minds are joining hands to create one of the most anticipated shows for Prime Video.

King‘s first published book is Carrie, which tells the story of a teenage girl with telekinetic powers. The story has been adapted numerous times, with the first adaptation arriving in 1976, two years after the book was published. Directed by Brian Palmer and starring Sissy Spacek, the film is regarded as the best feature adaptation. Kimberly Peirce would direct a 2013 adaptation starring Chloë Grace Moretz, but it did not reach the acclaim of the first. Now, Flanagan is taking a shot at an updated adaptation in Prime Video‘s 8-episode series coming this fall.

One of the biggest criticisms of the 2013 adaptation was that it had nothing new to say, making it seem like a lesser version of the 1976 film. Flanagan aims to address this by keeping Carrie’s story grounded in the modern high school experience, which brings its own forms of horror. The story largely follows Carrie White, who is thrust into the ruthless arena of the American public high school and forced to learn in real time as she discovers new things about herself. The series format lets Flanagan dive deeper into the other characters, building a world that feels both real and terrifying.

Who Is Behind the ‘Carrie’ Series?

Flanagan wrote Carrie, serves as showrunner, and directs four episodes. King is billed as an executive producer. An extensive casting search makes Summer H. Howell the new face of Carrie White. The series reunites Flanagan with some of his past collaborators: Samantha Sloyan and Rahul Kohli. Other cast members include Siena Agudong (No Good Nick), Amber Midthunder (Prey), Matthew Lillard (Scream), Alison Thornton (Dare Me), Josie Totah (The Buccaneers), and others.