Stephen King Names Mike Flanagan His “Best” Adapter and Hints at a Secret New Project

Few filmmakers have built as strong a relationship with Stephen King as Mike Flanagan. Over the years, the horror director has become one of the most trusted interpreters of King’s work, and his latest adaptation has only made that partnership stronger.

That adaptation is ‘Carrie’, Flanagan’s new take on King’s classic novel for Prime Video. All 8 episodes premiered on October 7, with Flanagan developing the series, directing 4 episodes and serving as executive producer alongside King himself.

Now King has publicly praised his collaborator. In a video posted on X, recorded with his dog Molly, King said of Flanagan: “he is the best adapter of my work.” It’s high praise from an author whose books have been adapted many times over the decades. The video, filmed in front of a TV showing the ‘Carrie’ streaming page, quickly spread among horror fans online.

King didn’t stop there. He also teased that Flanagan “might be doing something else that’s really special” before adding, “But I can’t talk about it.” In a separate post, King playfully told fans to keep quiet about it. He didn’t name the project, but he suggested it could happen if enough people watch ‘Carrie’, which immediately set off speculation about what the 2 might be planning.

Many fans immediately thought of ‘The Dark Tower’. Flanagan has long wanted to adapt King’s fantasy epic, and he recently told Entertainment Weekly that the series is still very much on the table, although development has moved slowly.

Shhh! Don’t talk about this! https://t.co/MUxoksZBev
— Stephen King (@StephenKing) October 9, 2026

He has explained that the project needs a major studio commitment, partly because characters tied to the universe are owned by different studios. He previously said the first season’s scripts were finished and that King liked them. ‘Carrie’ also includes a nod to ‘The Dark Tower’ in its first episode: LaMerk Industries, a metalworks company connected to the Crimson King.

Flanagan has another King project in progress. Speaking to Collider at the Toronto International Film Festival in September, he said he was actively writing his adaptation of ‘The Mist’, even working on it during his flight.

He expects to deliver the screenplay around Halloween and has stressed that his version won’t simply repeat Frank Darabont’s 2007 film, saying the differences start on page 1. No production start or release date has been announced.

‘Carrie’ stars Summer H. Howell and Samantha Sloyan, along with Siena Agudong, Alison Thornton, Joel Oulette, Josie Totah, Arthur Conti, Thalia Dudek, Amber Midthunder and Matthew Lillard. The series reportedly reached the top of Prime Video’s streaming charts after its release.

That success could matter. King’s tease suggests that strong viewership for ‘Carrie’ could help push Flanagan’s next project forward. King’s praise reflects years of collaboration. ‘Carrie’ is reportedly Flanagan’s 4th King adaptation, and King’s public support shows how much he trusts the filmmaker with his stories.

If you think you know her story, you’re dead wrong. All episodes of Carrie, a new series from Mike Flanagan, premiere October 7 on Prime Video. https://t.co/e21yA4nj4E
— Prime Video (@PrimeVideo) September 9, 2026

For fans, that trust is promising. Whether the secret project is ‘The Dark Tower’, another adaptation, or something completely new, the King-Flanagan partnership doesn’t seem to be slowing down.

For now, the details are under wraps, and King is clearly enjoying keeping fans guessing. With ‘Carrie’ streaming and ‘The Mist’ script nearly finished, Flanagan already has plenty of King projects underway. If the hints are accurate, the next announcement could be one of the biggest yet for fans of both creators.