Sissy Spacek in ‘Carrie’. Photo: United Artists.
Preview:
- Mike Flanagan’s ‘Carrie’ series is official at Amazon and Prime Video.
- Summer H. Howell is close to a deal for the lead role.
- The show will be a new adaptation of the classic Stephen King story.
For the last few years, aside from his big screen work, Mike Flanagan has been creating compelling horror tales for Netflix, including the likes of ‘Midnight Mass,’ ‘The Haunting of Hill House,’ and ‘The Fall of the House of Usher.’
But back in 2022, Amazon tempted Flanagan and producing partner Trevor Macy’s company Intrepid Pictures away with a lucrative, exclusive, multi-year overall series deal.
This is what the duo said at the time:
“Amazon is a studio that we have long admired. Their commitment to engaging in groundbreaking series and content aligns with the ethos of what we have built at Intrepid. We are looking forward to working with the entire Amazon team as we bring our brand of genre productions to the service and audiences around the globe.”
And since the deal took shape, the pair has been quietly developing several projects, with the first now officially emerging, after being announced as in the works in October.
Amazon has officially ordered a series based on Stephen King’s novel ‘Carrie,’ which has previously been brought to screens a few times.
The most famous adaptation is Brian De Palma’s 1976 movie, which starred Sissy Spacek as the title character. A remake by Kimberly Peirce, starring Chloë Grace Moretz, landed in theaters in 2013.
There was also a 2002 TV movie version handled by David Carson, with Angela Bettis in the lead. Oh, and 1999 saw an attempt to craft a sequel, with ‘The Rage: Carrie 2,’ which didn’t feature the character, but continued the story after her death.
Given his history, we have faith in Flanagan coming up with something much more successful than the more recent efforts. Ready the blood bucket!
What’s the story of the ‘Carrie’ TV series?
(L to R) Sissy Spacek and Betty Buckley in ‘Carrie’. Photo: United Artists.
‘Carrie’ is Stephen King’s 1974 debut novel. Set in the town of Chamberlain, Maine, the plot follows Carrie White, a friendless high school girl from an abusive religious household who discovers she has telekinetic powers.
According to the official spiel, the show is described as, “bold and timely reimagining of the story of misfit high-schooler Carrie, who has spent her life in seclusion with her domineering mother. After her father’s sudden and untimely death, Carrie finds herself contending with the alien landscape of public High School, a bullying scandal that shatters her community, and the emergence of mysterious powers.”
Who will star in the ‘Carrie’ TV series?
Summer H. Howell in ‘Hunter Hunter’. Photo: IFC Midnight.
According to Variety, Summer H. Howell is nearing a deal to star in Flanagan’s series as Carrie.
Howell has form in the horror genre, having starred in the ‘Child’s Play’ franchise films ‘Curse of Chucky’ and ‘Cult of Chucky.’
She has also appeared in genre films such as ‘Hunter Hunter,’ ‘Spirit in the Blood,’ ‘Time Cut,’ and ‘Harland Manor,’ as well as multiple episodes of the scary anthology series ‘Channel Zero.’
On the lighter side of things, she starred in the Disney+ film ‘Clouds,’ which was based on the acclaimed memoir ‘Fly a Little Higher: How God Answered a Mom’s Small Prayer in a Big Way’ by Laura Sobiech.
Siena Agudong in ‘Upside-Down Magic’. Photo: Disney Channel.
In more confirmed news, Siena Agudong has landed the role of popular high schooler Sue Snell.
In the novel and subsequent film adaptation, Sue initially joins in bullying Carrie but later decides to try to befriend her. Amy Irving played the character in the original film and ‘The Rage: Carrie 2,’ with Kandyse McClure and Gabriella Wilde playing her in subsequent ‘Carrie’ movies.
Agudong most recently starred in the Tubi movie ‘The QB and Me,’ which she also executive produced. She was also the female lead in Kevin Smith’s coming-of-age film ‘The 4:30 Movie.’
‘Carrie’ TV series: The Executives Speak
Sissy Spacek in ‘Carrie’. Photo: United Artists.
With the show now officially announced, team Amazon is naturally happy to talk about it.
Here’s Vernon Sanders, head of television for Amazon MGM Studios:
“ ‘Carrie’ is an iconic story that has withstood the test of time with continued cultural relevance. With Mike Flanagan at the helm and the accomplished team assembled including executive producer Trevor Macy this provocative series is sure to captivate our global customers.”
What else is Mike Flanagan working on?
(L to R) Executive Producer/Director Mike Flanagan, Executive Producer/Director Michael Fimognari in ‘The Fall of the House of Usher.’ Photo: Eike Schroter/Netflix © 2023.
Flanagan’s current movie is another King-derived project, ‘The Life of Chuck.’
Starring the likes of Tom Hiddleston, Mark Hamill, Matthew Lillard, Karen Gillan, Molly C. Quinn, David Dastmalchian and Chiwetel Ejiofor, it’s described as “a life-affirming, genre-bending story based on Stephen King’s novella about three chapters in the life of an ordinary man named Charles Krantz.”
‘The Life of Chuck’ will be on screens on June 6th.
He’s also in pre-production on a new movie based on classic horror ‘The Exorcist,’ having taken over shepherding that particular franchise for Universal from David Gordon Green.
And beyond that, he wrote the script for DC Studios and Warner Bros.’ ‘Clayface’ movie, which has ‘Speak No Evil’ filmmaker James Watkins in the director’s chair.
When will the ‘Carrie’ TV series be on screens?
Eight episodes of the show have been ordered and production is scheduled for this summer in Vancouver, but there is no official premiere date for ‘Carrie’ just yet.
(L to R) Bruce Greenwood as Roderick Usher, Executive Producer/Director Mike Flanagan in ‘The Fall of the House of Usher.’ Photo: Eike Schroter/Netflix © 2023.