You don’t need telekinesis to read Hollywood’s mind. It’s obvious the industry just can’t quit Carrie White. Horror master Mike Flanagan will be the next director to bring Stephen King’s iconic story to the screen. Flanagan will lead an eight-episode television series adaptation of the author’s seminal 1974 novel Carrie at Prime Video. Filming for the series wrapped in October 2025 and, according to actor Heather Graham, it seems the first three episodes are completely finished with post-production. So it seems to be on track for an October 2026 premiere, as previously hinted at by star Katee Sackhoff.
Graham, who will portray the mother of an antagonist who bullies Carrie, opened up about the series during MegaCon Orlando. She said that this series updates this classic story for a modern audience with elements like social media bullying, and says the first three episodes are great.
“They bring in an aspect of social media bullying and guns in school, so they try to modernize it, and I do feel like [Flanagan] captures the essence of what makes Carrie great,” Graham told Collider.
Mike Flanagan’s Carrie Cast
Summer H. Howell (Chucky TV series) will portray Carrie in Flanagan’s series. In our opinion, she certainly looks the part. Additionally, Siena Agudong has joined the cast as Sue Snell, a popular girl who bullies Carrie but also has a heart.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Flanagan said Howell was the perfect choice as the titular character Carrie after seeing nearly 1,800 candidates. “I think we ended up with the right actor for the part,” Flanagan said. “It took a long time to find her, and I can’t wait for people to see what she’s doing, because it’s unlike anything that anyone’s ever done with the part before.”
Here’s the Carrie cast members whom we know about:
- Matthew Lillard as Principle Grayle
- Samantha Sloyan as Margaret White
- Alison Thornton as Chris Hargensen
- Thalia Dudek as Emaline
- Amber Midthunder as Miss Desjardin
- Josie Totah as Tina
- Arthur Conti as Billy
- Joel Oulette as Tommy
Graham along with Kate Siegel, Michael Trucco, Katee Sackhoff, Rahul Kohli, Crystal Balint and Danielle Klaudt will also be in the Carrie TV series.
Mike Flanagan’s Carrie TV Series Plot Synopsis
There isn’t an official synopsis out quite yet, but Deadline describes it as “a reimagining of the story of misfit high schooler Carrie White, who has spent her life in seclusion with her domineering mother. After her father’s sudden death, Carrie finds herself contending with the challenges of attending high school, a bullying scandal and the emergence of mysterious telekinetic powers.”
This is just the latest live-action take on King’s book, but it will easily be the longest. Brian de Palma first brought Carrie to the screen in his classic 1976 film starring Sissy Spacek. A sequel titled The Rage: Carrie 2 followed in 1999. Adaptations of the novel then arrived in 2002 and 2013. There was even a failed stage musical in 1988 that was briefly revived in 2012. (It inspired Riverdale‘s Carrie episode!) Prime Video’s series will mark the first time anyone has adapted Carrie into a long-form series.
Carrie seems like an unlikely King novel to get an eight-episode take, but we’re confident Flanagan’s plans for it will prove why it was. He’s more than proven he can excel with long-form horror television. He’s also more than proven that he knows how to bring Stephen King stories to the screen, even if this will be his first attempt at a King TV show. Flanagan’s other King adaptations include feature film versions of Gerald’s Game and Doctor Sleep.
While we can’t wait to see what it’s like to spend even more time with Carrie White, we’re also excited about what the existence of this series could mean for another project. This show could also help Flanagan deliver on his long-teased The Dark Tower series. You don’t need telekinesis to know why anyone would want prom night to lead to that.
Originally published October 21, 2024.