Stephen King initially responded with a brutal "Why?" when Mike Flanagan proposed a new adaptation of his debut novel Carrie, but after seeing the finished series, he has given it his enthusiastic blessing. All episodes of the latest screen version land on Prime Video from October 7.
The series follows the same story as the 1974 novel, about a sheltered girl who uncovers telekinetic powers. After she is forced to attend public high school, she finds herself bullied while clashing with her domineering mother's influence, leading to a horrific, bloody incident that changes the town forever.
Flanagan's 'Why' question
Flanagan, known for adaptations including The Haunting of Hill House, The Haunting of Bly Manor, and The Fall of the House of Usher, said King's initial reaction mirrored his own. "Steve's first reaction was the same as mine had been – 'Why? She's been through enough, let's leave her alone,'" Flanagan explained.
He admitted that King's literary debut had already been adapted more than once "beautifully," and he knew he needed to answer the question about why it should be done again. "That word – 'why' – is one of the most consequential words in my line of work," Flanagan said. "If I couldn't answer that question, passing on Carrie was not only inevitable; it was essential."
King's verdict after watching
Despite early concerns, King's view turned positive once he watched the series. "I couldn't stop watching the show," he admitted. Acknowledging alterations to his original text and differences from previous film versions, he added: "It feels like it gets to the heart of teenage misery (and occasional bright shafts of joy). The book and Brian De Palma's film were about blood and horror; Flanagan's version—a deep dive—is about the horror of social media. I loved it, and hope you will, too."
Carrie is streaming on Prime Video from October 7.
