Mike Flanaganis working on a new horror TV series based on a classic Stephen King novel, and it’s the perfect follow-up to his next King adaptation. Ever since his breakout hitHush, Flanagan has been one of the most sought-after horror directors working in Hollywood. He’s helmed acclaimed movies likeGerald’s GameandOuija: Origin of Evil, and from 2018 to 2023,Flanagan had an impressive run of five great horror shows on Netflix. He’s not slowing down any time soon, since he has a wide variety of new movies and shows on the docket.
Flanagan has a bunch of exciting upcoming projects on his slate. Following the dismal reception toThe Exorcist: Believer,Flanagan has been tapped to direct a reboot ofThe Exorcistfranchisethat’s set to be released on August 21, 2025. He’s in the cast ofThe Room Returns!, a remake of Tommy Wiseau’sThe Room, alongside Bob Odenkirk and Bella Heathcote. He’s also been developing a film adaptation of the Christopher Pike novelThe Season of Passagefor Universal since 2021. But Flanagan has just announced a new project that’s arguably more intriguing than any of them.
Mike Flanagan’s Next TV Show Is An Adaptation Of Stephen King’s Carrie
Flanagan Is Working On An Eight-Episode Carrie TV Series
After making five shows for Netflix back-to-back, Flanagan signed a first-look overall TV deal with Amazon Studios to develop new series for Prime Video. Now, it’s been reported (viaDeadline) that the first project to come out of that deal is an eight-episode TV series adaptation ofKing’s debut novelCarrie. Flanagan will act as the showrunner on the new series and will also executive produce the show alongside Trevor Macy.Flanagan and co. are already looking to open a writers’ room for theCarrieseries, so it seems like this one will take off pretty quickly.
Flanagan will act as the showrunner on the new series and will also executive produce the show alongside Trevor Macy.
Not only didCarriebecome King’s first published novel; it also proved that his brand of spooky literature was a perfect match for screen adaptations. Two years after its publication,Brian De Palma turnedCarrieinto a timeless moviethat is still regarded as one of the best King adaptations and best horror films ever made. This was followed up by a 1999 sequel,The Rage: Carrie 2, as well as a made-for-TV re-adaptation in 2002 and a big-screen remake in 2013.Flanagan’s new Amazon series will be the fifth adaptationof King’s first book.
Mike Flanagan’s Carrie Show Is Even More Exciting After His Upcoming Stephen King Movie’s Success
The Life Of Chuck Has Been Widely Praised By Critics
Flanagan’s newCarrieseriesis far from the first time he’s adapted King’s work. Ever since he adaptedGerald’s Gamefor the screen, every movie Flanagan has directed has been a King adaptation. He followed upGerald’s Gamewith an adaptation of King’sShiningsequel,Doctor Sleep, and he followed that up withThe Life of Chuck.The Life of Chuckisn’t a horror movie like Flanagan’s other King adaptations; it’s based on the dramatic novella of the same namefrom King’s anthologyIf It Bleeds.
The Life Of Chuck Perfectly Continues Mike Flanagan’s Impressive 13 Year Rotten Tomatoes Streak
Mike Flanagan’s most recent project is already living up to the director’s impressive standards, earning yet another fresh Rotten Tomatoes score.
The Life of Chuckrecently premiered at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival to rave reviews from critics.It earned the festival’s People’s Choice Award, which is usually a sign of future Oscars success; it scored a “fresh” critics’ score of 85% on Rotten Tomatoes; and it secured a distribution deal with Neon for a 2025 release.The reviews forThe Life of Chuckare suggesting it could be Flanagan’s best King adaptation to date, which certainly bodes well for his upcomingCarrieseries.
Why Carrie Is The Perfect Show To Begin Mike Flanagan’s Amazon Deal
Carrie Is Tailor-Made For A Teen Drama Show
Carrieis the ideal project to kick off Flanagan’s deal with Amazon. For starters, he has a long history of successfully adapting King’s works. He’s been working on-and-off onan ambitious TV adaptation ofThe Dark Tower, butit might be a good idea to start off with something smaller-scale likeCarriebefore tackling the epic tomes ofThe Dark Towerseries. With its story of a bullied high schooler being pushed to her breaking point,Carrieis tailor-made for a teen drama series.
Mike Flanagan often takes on projects that seem like a bad idea at first — like a sequel to The Shining or a modernization of The Fall of the House of Usher — and they usually turn out pretty awesome.
Carrieactually seems like one of the few novels that’s better suited to a feature film adaptation than a TV series adaptation. The novel had to be padded out with epistolary sections and the movie adaptation had to be padded out with a tuxedo shopping montage. It might feel a little stretched at eight episodes. ButMike Flanaganoften takes on projects that seem like a bad idea at first — like a sequel toThe Shiningor a modernization ofThe Fall of the House of Usher— and they usually turn out pretty awesome.
Source:Deadline
Mike Flanagan
Discover the latest news and filmography for Mike Flanagan, known for Doctor Sleep and The Haunting of Hill House.
