Mike Flanagan interview: ‘Carrie and Chris might have been friends’
Director Mike Flanagan discusses his new adaptation of Stephen King's 'Carrie', emphasizing a departure from the traditional portrayal of the protagonist as purely traumatized. He frames the story as an exploration of cruelty and the societal treatment of powerful women.
Why it matters
Flanagan's approach highlights evolving trends in horror adaptations that prioritize character depth and social commentary over traditional monster tropes.
Carrie is Mike Flanagan’s fourth Stephen King adaptation after Gerald’s Game (2017), Doctor Sleep (2019), and The Life of Chuck (2024). King’s debut novel got the stylish Brian De Palma treatment in 1976. “We knew from the beginning we weren’t going to be remaking Carrie because there is really no point,” Flanagan says over a video call from New York. “It’s been done so many times,” he adds.
Carrie White, played by Summer H. Howell in the miniseries, is curious, kind and a voracious reader, except for Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein because she “doesn’t do scary”. “Every other version of Carrie has a Carrie White who is traumatised and terrified,” the 48-year-old director says.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in