Mike Flanagan has carved out a space for himself as one of the most thoughtful, empathetic, and terrifying voices in horror. With his emotionally driven stories and personal approach to the genre, he’s become a powerhouse creator. But it’s not something that he’s done alone. If you’ve watched his brilliant works across TV and film then you’ll have noticed the thing that joins them. Flanagan has created a roster of talented collaborators who reappear across his projects. So in celebration of these splendid creators, we’re (re)introducing you to Flanagan’s rep players.
Kate Siegel
Number of Flanagan projects: Eight
One of Flanagan’s most regular collaborators, Siegel is often the beating heart of his beautiful nightmares. The now husband and wife team first collaborated on his eerie mirror movie Oculus. Next up was Hush, a twist on the home invasion thriller which Siegel co-wrote. Ouija: Origin of Evil marked their third project. Some of their most beloved creations followed: Gerald’s Game, The Haunting of Hill House, The Haunting of Bly Manor, and Midnight Mass. Next up we’ll see Siegel in The Fall of the House of Usher, making eight emotionally devastating Flanagan appearances.
Henry Thomas
Number of Flanagan projects: Eight
After breaking into Hollywood as Elliot in E.T. decades ago, Thomas is now a Flanagan stalwart. Their collaboration began with Ouija: Origin of Evil, and soon Thomas returned in the brutal Gerald’s Game. He played the young Hugo Crain in Flanagan’s critical smash The Haunting of Hill House, played Jack Torrance in Doctor Sleep, and returned to Netflix for The Haunting of Bly Manor. He played a father again in Midnight Mass, with a gut punch turn as Ed Flynn. And he’ll be collaborating with Flanagan once again for The Fall of the House of Usher. Though that’s only seven, Flanagan mentioned he and Thomas had collaborated eight times, so you can probably expect the actor to show up in Midnight Club when it hits Netflix later this year.
Katie Parker
Number of Flanagan projects: Six
Going back to Flanagan’s first ever film Absentia, Parker has been a recurring figure in the director’s impressive career. She then popped up in Oculus. Then she appeared again in The Haunting of Hill House as Poppy Hill. If you’ve seen Doctor Sleep you’ll likely remember her chilling turn as Silent Sarey in the Stephen King adaptation. Completing The Haunting double bill, she also appeared in Bly Manor as the home’s long dead inhabitant Perdita Willoughby. While she wasn’t in Midnight Mass, you’ll be able to catch her in the upcoming The Fall of the House of Usher.
Robert Longstreet
Number of Flanagan projects: Five
Midnight Mass had plenty of standout performances. But as Joe Collie, Robert Longstreet created a truly complex and broken man, destroyed by his own past and mistakes. It was the kind of turn that you’ll never forget, but it wasn’t his first with Flanagan. In The Haunting of Hill House, Longstreet played the kindly Mr. Dudley, another layered man who suffered tragic loss. In Doctor Sleep, he played Barry the Chunk, a member of the terrifying True Knot. We don’t know who he’ll be playing in The Fall of the House of Usher, but in Midnight Club he’ll be taking on the role of Jacob for at least one episode.
Samantha Sloyan
Number of Flanagan projects: Five
She terrified Midnight Mass viewers as the devilish Bev, but Sloyan has been a part of Flanagan’s collaborative team for longer than his most recent hit! She debuted in the Flanagan universe during Hush. That’s a nice little lead in to Midnight Mass, as in the movie the lead—played by Kate Siegel—is writing none other than Midnight Mass. Next up was The Haunting of Hill House, and then of course the aforementioned Midnight Mass. Like many of her co-stars she’ll be back again for both Midnight Club and The Fall of the House of Usher.
Carla Gugino
Number of Flanagan projects: Five
While she might have only been seen on screen in four, we’re counting her voiceover in Midnight Mass as it was a great little nod to Gugino and Flanagan’s ongoing collaboration. Her first Flanagan appearance was as Jessie in the nightmarish thriller Gerald’s Game. Next up she gave a powerhouse turn as the loving but troubled Olivia Crain in The Haunting of Hill House. She came back to play the storyteller in his gothic romance The Haunting of Bly Manor. And Gugino will be returning in The Fall of the House of Usher!
Annabeth Gish
Number of Flanagan projects: Four
Debuting in Flanagan’s world in the haunting horror, Before I Wake, Gish is the only actor on our list with that credit. She destroyed audiences as the tragic Mrs. Dudley in The Haunting of Hill House alongside her Midnight Mass co-star Robert Longstreet. Of course, we most recently saw her in that religious fever dream, and next she’ll be back in The Fall of the House of Usher.
Rahul Kohli
Number of Flanagan projects: Four
Whether he’s playing the sweet hearted chef of Bly Manor, Owen, or the moral compass of Midnight Mass, Sheriff Hassan, Kohli is a bright light in any Flanagan project. Luckily, if you’re hoping for more of the sexiest man in the rep squad then you’re in luck. Kohli will be returning in both Midnight Club and The Fall of the House of Usher. Until then you can just go back and rewatch Midnight Mass and Bly Manor again to get batter acquainted with Kohli.
Michael Trucco
Number of Flanagan projects: Four
Trucco made his Flanagan debut in Hush before appearing in Midnight Mass as devoted father Wade Scarborough. Torn between faith, family, and his own morals, Trucco brought a grounded humanity to the dark fantasy of the series. And he’s one of many Midnight Mass cast members who has gone on from there to join both Midnight Club and The Fall of the House of Usher.
Zach Gilford
Number of Flanagan projects: Three
Making his Flanagan debut with his unforgettable role as Riley Flynn in Midnight Mass, Gilford is another unbelievable addition to the roster. Riley was Midnight Mass’ prodigal son, its broken heart. And Gilford broke ours in return in every scene. He’ll be back with Flanagan—and many of his Midnight Mass co-stars—again in The Fall of the House of Usher and The Midnight Club.
Alex Essoe
Number of Flanagan projects: Three
She made her Flanagan debut in unforgettable fashion as Doctor Sleep’s Wendy Torrance. Next up was The Haunting of Bly Manor, where she took on another maternal figure as Miles and Flora’s dearly departed mother Charlotte. Continuing the trend, she played the literally transformative role of Mildred Gunning in Midnight Mass.
Crystal Balint
Number of Flanagan projects: Three
Like her on screen husband, Trucco, Dolly is one of the good people left on Midnight Mass’ Crockett Island. But when her faith promises her the one thing she’s always wanted, she begins to lose her grip. Dolly’s struggle was brought to life so brilliantly by Balint, it’s no wonder that Flanagan has brought her on for Midnight Club and The Fall of the House of Usher.
Matt Biedel
Number of Flanagan projects: Three
Midnight Mass was one hell of an ensemble. There were so many memorable performances and one that sticks out is Biedel as Sturge. Following that psychological feat, Biedel is returning for both Midnight Club and The Fall of the House of Usher.
Igby Rigney
Number of Flanagan projects: Three
Playing Riley’s younger brother Warren in Midnight Mass, Rigney made a huge impact on Flanagan’s world. He was also one of only two survivors of the Crockett Island massacre. Next up he’s heading to Midnight Club, and was recently announced—in a very excited tweet by Flanagan—for The Fall of the House of Usher.
Victoria Pedretti
Number of Flanagan projects: Two
She’s the Flanagan breakout who has been breaking hearts since we first met her in The Haunting of Hill House. Though Pedretti only just over ten credits under her belt, she makes each one count. As Nell Crain in Hill House she showed her devastating range, and returned once again in The Haunting of Bly Manor in another wrenching turn as young nanny Dani Clayton. We want nothing more than for Pedretti to return to collaborate with Flanagan again, but for now those two stunning turns will keep us warm through the cold winter nights.
Oliver Jackson-Cohen
Number of Flanagan projects: Two
Like his on-screen twin, Jackson-Cohen has made a massive impact in just two Flanagan projects. His performance as the tortured addict Luke Crain in Hill House is one of the most heartbreaking in Flanagan canon. And he returned in an entirely new guise for The Haunting of Bly Manor. There he brought his suave and overwhelming charm to the toxic Peter Quint. It was one of the many complex layers that made Bly Manor such a brutal watch. A rare representation of the way toxic relationships can kill and haunt those around them for years afterwards.
T’Nia Miller
Number of Flanagan projects: Two
She was the absolute breakout of The Haunting of Bly Manor, and we’re so excited that Miller is returning for The Fall of the House of Usher. Her touching performance as Hannah in the retelling of the tales of Henry James established Miller as Flanagan standout. If you want to check out her work outside of Flanagan, then she’s recently been killing it in Foundation, La Fortuna, and had a recurring role in the Netflix fave Sex Education.
Notable Mentions
With such an impressive roster of collaborators, Flanagan’s roost is always growing. There are a number of awesome actors who have played key supporting roles, or who have been announced in upcoming Flanagan projects that we wanted to shout out. So this is their space.
You might recognize James Lafferty from his roles in Oculus and The Haunting of Hill House. Esme Cullen herself, Elizabeth Reaser also starred in The Haunting of Hill House as well as Ouija: Origin of Evil. Another Flanagan regular with two credits is the wonderful Carl Lumbly; after a stellar turn in Doctor Sleep, he’ll be back in The Fall of the House of Usher. Lumbly’s fellow Doctor Sleep alum, young star Kyliegh Curran, will be joining him in House of Usher. Another double threat is Sauriyan Sapkota who’ll be introduced in Midnight Club and The Fall of the House of Usher. That’s the case for a couple of other Flanagan new additions too. Brand New Cherry Flavor’s Aya Furukawa, and newcomer Ruth Codd, will be in both the new series.
Featured Image: Netflix
