Mike Flanagan’s ‘Carrie’ Brings Fresh Blood to Prime Video

Stephen King’s classic tale of telekinetic terror is making a comeback, and this time it’s landing on Prime Video. The streaming service has given the green light to an eight-episode series adapting ‘Carrie,’ with horror maestro Mike Flanagan at the helm. He’s no stranger to King’s world, having already tackled projects like ‘Gerald’s Game’ and ‘Doctor Sleep.’ Now, he’s diving into the story of a shy high schooler with a knack for moving things with her mind—and a prom night no one will forget.

Flanagan’s take promises a modern twist on the 1974 novel that put King on the map. The story follows Carrie White, a girl raised in isolation by her overbearing, religious mother. After losing her father, she’s thrown into the chaos of high school, where bullying and strange powers start to bubble up.

It’s a setup that’s been adapted before—first by Brian De Palma in 1976 with Sissy Spacek, then again in 2002 with Angela Bettis, and later in 2013 with Chloë Grace Moretz. But an eight-episode run? That’s new territory, and I’m curious to see how Flanagan stretches this tale across a longer format.

According to Variety, Summer H. Howell is in talks to play Carrie White herself. You might know her from her creepy turn as Alice in ‘Curse of Chucky’ and its follow-up ‘Cult of Chucky.’ She’s got horror chops, with roles in flicks like ‘Hunter Hunter’ and ‘Time Cut’ under her belt.

Meanwhile, Siena Agudong is set to step into the shoes of Sue Snell, the classmate who shifts from tormentor to ally. Agudong’s been in stuff like Netflix’s ‘Resident Evil’ series and Kevin Smith’s ‘The 4:30 Movie.’ Filming’s slated to kick off this summer in Vancouver, so things are moving fast.

Howell’s no rookie when it comes to dark roles. She started young, snagging a Joey Award for her ‘Curse of Chucky’ gig, and she’s kept busy in the genre ever since. Agudong, on the other hand, brings a mix of drama and action from her past work. Sue’s a tricky part—she’s got guilt driving her to make amends with Carrie, a role Amy Irving nailed in the original film. With Flanagan writing, directing, and running the show, plus Trevor Macy producing, this team’s got the goods to make it stand out.

King’s ‘Carrie’ has always been about more than just blood and powers—it’s a raw look at outcasts and revenge. Flanagan’s got a knack for digging into the emotional guts of horror, like he did with ‘The Haunting of Hill House.’ We’re expecting that same depth here. And with Prime Video backing it, this could be a big one. Oh, and if you’re wondering about Flanagan’s other King projects—he’s still working on ‘The Dark Tower’ too. Busy guy, but I’m not complaining if it means more of this.