Mike Flanagan Tells Us Stephen King’s First Reaction To His Carrie Pitch, And It Led To A Major Question The Director Needed To Answer

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As a seasoned reader and fan of Stephen King’s works, I must say that Mike Flanagan’s upcoming adaptation of “Carrie” has me thoroughly intrigued. With his knack for modernizing classic literature while staying true to the essence of the original stories, I have high hopes for this reimagining of a tale that remains relevant even after five decades.

Although it’s unlikely that Mike Flanagan’s Carrie adaptation for Prime Video will be among the TV shows airing in 2025, there’s no denying the anticipation surrounding it. After all, reimagining Stephen King’s first novel from 1974 offers a unique opportunity to explore how a contemporary retelling of this well-known story might unfold.

As a devoted fan, I must express my excitement over the latest revelation concerning the mysterious creator of “The Fall of the House of Usher.” Despite the numerous films, a sequel, and even a musical adaptation, this master of horror seems to be making yet another chilling entrance. This new development, shrouded in secrecy, has sparked intrigue, as well as stirred up questions among us fans. Remarkably, even Stephen King himself has expressed an opinion on the matter.

Mike Flanagan And Stephen King Had The Same Question About A(nother) Carrie Remake

It’s widely recognized that Mike Flanagan has a knack for adapting the works of Stephen King, having taken on the role of showrunner for “Carrie” as his fourth collaboration with the author. Given this background, I was excited to discuss Flanagan’s novella “Rare, Fine & Limited,” and my colleague, who specializes in covering Stephen King’s work, Eric Eisenberg, suggested I delve deeper into the intricacies of this unexpected new project.

Apparently, just like everyone else, Flanagan appeared taken aback that Carrie White would attend the prom once more. However, as he confided in TopMob, it was merely because the crucial question had been addressed appropriately.

Among my initial queries was ‘Why?’. If I couldn’t find a satisfying answer to ‘Why repeat this endeavor?’, then there was no merit in moving forward with the project. This sentiment echoes when we encountered The Turn of the Screw, a work already adapted numerous times. The question becomes, ‘How can we approach this uniquely?’

Regarding his response to that question, the director of “Doctor Sleep” acknowledged that this new venture needed to make a distinctive impact. As I hinted at earlier, the world continues to appreciate Brian De Palma’s 1976 film “Carrie,” with Sissy Spacek delivering a chilling central performance.

To add, there was the well-known 1988 stage musical, which had songs such as “And Eve Was Weak” among its repertoire, in addition to NBC’s 2002 TV movie and director Kimberly Pierce’s 2013 adaptation. In other words, if you’re keeping track, that makes four different versions of Carrie, each offering unique interpretations for comparison.

By the time you reach adding “The Rage: Carrie 2” from 1999 into your collection, it becomes clear why so much responsibility rests on Mike Flanagan’s shoulders. It seems that Amazon MGM Studios has placed trust in the director who will also reimagine “The Exorcist” soon, but this project seems to have originated as a request from the production company itself.

Establishing such trust magnifies the importance of those initial steps as we tackle this fresh version. When Flanagan presented his highly confidential concept to Stephen King, it stirred memories of potential obstacles that might challenge him. This echoed the showrunner’s apprehensions, subtly reflected through King’s signature mix of candid honesty.

His first question was also mine. … Steve’s first reaction was, ‘Why do that again?’

It’s interesting how the concept behind “Hush” caught the attention of its director. The question now is: How did he manage to secure Stephen King’s approval, and what was his initial response to the idea? This is a part of the tale that unfolds next, as Mike Flanagan begins to outline the details of Carrie White’s updated telekinetic storyline.

Stephen King’s First Reaction To The New Carrie Adaptation, According To Mike Flanagan

It’s understated to say that Mike Flanagan considers Carrie a secret he keeps close. During our conversation, he emphasized his reluctance to reveal too much about Carrie White’s recent revival. However, the information that the Oculus director felt comfortable disclosing sparked this segment of Stephen King’s response.

I won’t give away how we’re handling Carrie, but let me assure you it’s not just a rehash of the original story. Instead, it’s a fresh take on the material, one that even Stephen King is thrilled with, and that excites me too.

Stephen King is straightforward about his feelings regarding adaptations of his works, and anyone acquainted with King’s opinions on Stanley Kubrick’s “The Shining” might be able to recite at length the issues the renowned author has with the classic horror movie. Therefore, learning that another “Carrie” film has been made likely adds significance for the devoted fans of King’s literary works, often referred to as Constant Readers.

Discussing the shared curiosity they all held, Mike Flanagan explained to me the means by which he generated such excitement. In doing so, the director of “Gerald’s Game” further piqued Stephen King fans’ interest with this tale.

Previously, De Palma had executed the task with an undeniable elegance, some might say flawlessly. However, it was repeated for certain reasons. Now that the project proposal is on the table, his initial response was one of excitement. If he’s enthusiastic, I’m all for it. But if not, I wouldn’t have pursued it. This will certainly be a delightful surprise for fans.

As a devoted admirer, I must admit that the specifics of Carrie are somewhat scant at present, but let me assure you, there’s still much to explore on this topic. In fact, during my recent investigation for this post-interview piece, I stumbled upon additional comments that offer a richer picture of what contemporary Chamberlain, Maine might be like. Frankly, these insights have only fueled my excitement for this project even more, and I can’t wait to share the intriguing details I’ve uncovered with you.

The Carrie Changes Mike Flanagan Has Hinted At So Far

Revamping a widely recognized literary classic can be quite a challenge, no matter the approach. Not everyone has the knack for reimagining Shakespeare in a more modern setting, but occasionally, we’re gifted with masterpieces like Kenneth Branagh’s Hamlet.

For Mike Flanagan’s resume, we’ve been captivated by series such as “The Haunting of Bly Manor,” a modern interpretation of Henry James’ “The Turn of the Screw,” and his most recent Netflix production, “The Fall of the House of Usher.” In both cases, he has breathed new life into classic works from authors like James and Poe by providing fresh insights into their themes, while also making adjustments to characters and settings to appeal to modern viewers.

Although Carrie may seem like a more straightforward choice given that it’s been half a century since its initial release as a teen drama, the challenge of accurately portraying today’s teenagers could prove to be one of the most daunting tasks for an adult creator. However, in a recent interview with MovieWeb, Mike Flanagan demonstrated his storytelling prowess by addressing this issue.

To me, the scene where Carrie White passes through a metal detector holds intrigue. Transforming this scenario with social media integration offers a fresh take on the classic locker room scene, where people now have phones instead of just lockers. This sparked an idea that I felt could convey significant and contemporary themes. However, I won’t reveal the modifications we made to shape the narrative into one that seemed essential to tell. But let me assure you, these changes were quite substantial.

I won’t be delving too deeply into Mike Flanagan’s version of Carrie, and truthfully, I’m content with that. Given my admiration for his skillful adaptation of Doctor Sleep, which paid tribute to both Stephen King’s original work and Stanley Kubrick’s prior film, I can’t help but crave more insights into Flanagan’s current projects.

Fear not, Flana-lovers, there are numerous other endeavors to engage with as we patiently anticipate the unveiling of these secrets. If you’re eager to revisit the Netflix era of Mike Flanagan, having a Netflix subscription will undoubtedly prove beneficial. Meanwhile, The Life of Chuck, scheduled for a summer 2025 premiere, is just around the corner. However, you won’t have to wait too long for Mike Flanagan’s upcoming project.

By securing a pre-order of the exceptional, restricted, and scarce Reposado Tequila from Macabre Spirits, you’ll gain access to the unique novella that lends its title to the bottle. Having delved into Mike Flanagan’s initial literary exploration of madness myself, I wholeheartedly endorse this experience.

The product is scheduled to be delivered in January 2025, so there’s no rush. In the meantime, feel free to explore more of Eric Eisenberg’s writing over at The King Beat, where new pieces are published every Thursday. It’s a great resource for keeping up with all the latest news related to that beat.

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2024-11-13 21:08