Modern horror master Mike Flanagan’s new “Carrie” series premieres in early October, and Prime Video has finally released the full trailer. The new footage gives fans their best look yet at Flanagan’s take on the Stephen King classic and it’s clear he’s bringing his signature combination of supernatural horror and emotionally complex storytelling to Carrie White’s tragic story.
Watch the full trailer:
“Carrie” has been adapted for the big screen in the past, but this is the first time King’s debut novel has been turned into a television series. With eight episodes to tell the story instead of two hours, Flanagan has an opportunity to explore Carrie, her mother, her classmates and the events leading up to that infamous night in much greater depth.
An Updated Horror Classic
Judging by the trailer, Flanagan is keeping some of the most important elements of King’s original story while bringing Carrie White into the modern world.
Summer H. Howell stars as Carrie, a sheltered teenager who enters public high school after spending most of her life isolated at home with her fiercely protective mother, Margaret, played by Samantha Sloyan.
Carrie quickly discovers just how cruel her classmates can be. But this time, the bullying doesn’t necessarily end when she leaves school.
Social media and viral humiliation add an entirely new dimension to Carrie’s isolation. Internet bullying didn’t exist when King published “Carrie” in 1974, but it fits disturbingly well into a story that has always been about the devastating consequences of cruelty.
According to the official synopsis, Carrie becomes the target of a viral bullying scandal while simultaneously discovering the mysterious telekinetic abilities emerging alongside her adolescence. The eight-episode format will also allow the series to dig deeper into the choices and relationships that eventually build toward the story’s devastating climax.
King’s original “Carrie” was published in 1974 and spent 14 weeks on The New York Times bestseller list. Just two years later, director Brian De Palma turned it into the now-iconic 1976 film starring Sissy Spacek as Carrie and Piper Laurie as Margaret White.
Fifty years later, Flanagan is taking his own shot at reinventing the horror classic for another generation.
A Horror Dream Team Behind “Carrie”
Flanagan is no stranger to either Stephen King or emotionally devastating horror. The filmmaker behind “The Haunting of Hill House” and “Midnight Mass” has previously adapted King’s “Gerald’s Game,” “Doctor Sleep” and “The Life of Chuck.”
He serves as writer, showrunner and executive producer of “Carrie” and directs four of the eight episodes. King is also an executive producer.
There’s some serious talent behind the camera for the remaining episodes, too. Kate Siegel, Axelle Carolyn, Kyra Sedgwick and Hiromi Kamata each direct an episode.
The cast also includes Siena Agudong as Sue Snell, Alison Thornton as Chris Hargensen, Joel Oulette as Tommy Ross, Amber Midthunder as Miss Desjardin and “Scream” favorite Matthew Lillard as Principal Grayle.
Binge-Worthy Horror To Kick Off Spooky Month
Fans won’t have to wait several weeks to find out how Flanagan reimagines Carrie’s story. All eight episodes of “Carrie” will arrive at once on Prime Video on Wednesday, October 7.
That makes “Carrie” a perfectly timed horror binge for spooky season. Although, anyone familiar with Mike Flanagan’s work should probably be prepared for a few emotional gut punches along with the blood, telekinesis and terror.
