Mike Flanagan is officially adapting Stephen King’s novelCarrieinto a TV show, which has even greater prospects due to the filmmaker’s 2019 adaptation ofDoctor Sleep. Following his tenure at Netflix, which came to an end in 2023 with the critically acclaimedThe Fall of the House of Usher, Flanagan is bringing his horror TV expertise to Amazon. While it was thought that this triumph would go to his in-development adaptation of King’sThe Dark Towernovel series,Flanagan’s very first Amazon show will be aneight-episode take on the author’s iconic 1974 horror storyCarrie.
Carrieis far from Mike Flanagan’s first dive into the world of Stephen King, having previously helmed film adaptations ofGerald’s Game(2017),Doctor Sleep(2019), andThe Life of Chuck(releasing in 2025). However, Flanagan has yet to put his take on the author’s work in a TV format, making his upcoming series even more exciting. Though the fact that Brian De Palma adaptedCarrieinto a critically adored 1976 horror movie may be a cause for concern for Flanagan’s remake,his work onDoctor Sleepalready established a masterful ability to tread on beloved, familiar Stephen King territory.
Mike Flanagan Proved He Could Brilliantly Remake A Stephen King Classic In Doctor Sleep
Doctor Sleep Masterfully Remakes Iconic Scenes From The Shining Book & Movie
When Mike Flanagan took on the daunting task of adapting Stephen King’s 2013 novelDoctor Sleep, it was a huge risk for the filmmaker, as the book was the author’s long-delayedsequel to his iconic horror storyThe Shining. Therefore, successfullyadaptingDoctor Sleepinvolved appeasing fans of the 2013 book, fans of King’s 1976The Shiningnovel, and fans of Stanley Kubrick’s 1980 film adaptation ofThe Shining, which notably departs from the author’s original story. As difficult as it was to take all these differing expectations into account, Mike Flanagan’sDoctor Sleepmovie was masterfully executed.
Doctor Sleepreceived a “Certified Fresh” 78% score from critics on Rotten Tomatoes. However, the movie underperformed in theaters, earning only $72.4 million against an estimated $45 million budget.
Doctor Sleepproved that Flanagan could successfully tackle a classic Stephen King IP while putting his own new spin on it, which bodes very well forCarriereceiving this same treatment. Additionally,various aspects ofDoctor Sleep’s movie essentially remake key parts ofThe Shining– both Kubrick’s movie and King’s book– as it recreates iconic original scenes, characters, and moments. Flanagan’s “remakes” of classicThe Shiningscenes involved authentic homages to the original film and book infused with his own unique touch on them, which is exactly what anew remake ofCarriewould require today.
Mike Flanagan’s Carrie Show Has A Bigger Challenge After 25 Years Of Failed Carrie Remakes
Not only does Mike Flanagan’s new iteration ofStephen King’sCarriehave to overcome the disadvantage of comparisons to De Palma’s 1976 movie, but it alsohas to overcome the fatigue and skepticism of yet another adaptation after some disappointing subsequent versions. Though 1976’sCarrieholds an impressive “Certified Fresh” 94% score from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, the 1999 sequel, 2002 movie, and 2013 iterations weren’t so warmly received. Rather,The Rage: Carrie 2has a disappointing 23% rating,Carrie(2002) holds a 20% score, and the latest remake,Carrie(2013), received a divisive 50% critics’ score.
94%
23%
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Carrie(2013)
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Expectations are therefore relatively low for a newCarrieadaptation to live up to the 1976 movie, even with a horror master likeDoctor Sleep’s Mike Flanagan behind it. Thankfully,Flanagan’s resume of well-received Stephen King adaptationsmakes it more likely thatCarrie’s upcoming TV show will be a hit. Furthermore, Flanagan even has the opportunity to improve upon De Palma’s adaptation with a TV format, as more episodes allow hilton dive deeper into elements of the novel that the movies omitted. Flanagan’sCarriecould become the best adaptation yet, it just has some warranted reservations to conquer.
Doctor Sleep
Cast
Doctor Sleep, set decades after The Shining, follows Dan Torrance as he confronts his traumatic past at the Overlook Hotel. He encounters Abra, a teenage girl with powerful extrasensory abilities called the “shine,” who enlists his help in battling sinister forces.
Carrie
Carrie is a horror film directed by Brian De Palma, based on Stephen King’s novel. It stars Sissy Spacek as Carrie White, a shy high school student who discovers her telekinetic abilities. Tormented by her peers and controlled by her fanatically religious mother, played by Piper Laurie, the film follows Carrie’s emotional and psychological struggles leading to a dramatic climax. Carrie solidified its place in the horror genre for its powerful performances and chilling atmosphere.
