Mike Flanagan's Carrie Series Wraps Filming, Aims for a Modern Take

Good news, horror hounds and King fans! Mike Flanagan's ambitious Carrie TV series has officially wrapped production, and the director himself is hyped, calling it one of his favorite projects ever. This Prime Video adaptation is set to give Stephen King's iconic tale a fresh, modern twist that promises more than just telekinetic chaos.

TL;DR: The Quick Scoop on Mike Flanagan's Carrie Series

Filming for Mike Flanagan's Carrie series officially wrapped on October 17, 2025, after kicking off in June.
Flanagan is super excited, calling it "one of the best experiences of my career" with a "very best ensembles."
This eight-episode Prime Video series aims to be a deeper, more relevant take on the classic, focusing on modern bullying and community destruction rather than just telekinesis.

Filming is a Wrap: What Mike Flanagan Has to Say About His Latest Project

It's official: Principal photography on Mike Flanagan’s highly anticipated Carrie series is complete! The acclaimed director, known for his incredible work on shows like The Haunting of Hill House and Midnight Mass, announced the wrap on social media, sharing an image of his director's chair covered in signatures from the cast and crew. Production started back in June 2025, taking over Vancouver, with both soundstage work at The Bridge Studios and various on-location shoots across the city. After four months of intense work, the team is now heading into post-production, and Flanagan couldn't be more thrilled.

"Our last day of filming on CARRIE," Flanagan wrote. "This has been one of the best experiences of my career, one of the very best ensembles I’ve ever worked with, and already one of my favorite projects ever. Cannot wait for you guys to see what we made."

That's some serious praise coming from a filmmaker with such a stellar track record. Flanagan's enthusiasm clearly indicates that this isn't just another remake; it's a project he genuinely believes in, suggesting it will offer something truly special for fans of Stephen King's debut novel.

Not Just Another Carrie: Why This Remake Aims to Be Deeply Relevant Today

Let's be honest, Carrie has been adapted a few times now. Brian De Palma's 1976 film with Sissy Spacek is a classic for a reason, but then we had the 2002 TV movie and the 2013 version starring Chloë Grace Moretz, neither of which quite hit the mark critically. The problem, as many saw it, was that these later versions often felt like they existed "just for the sake of existing," modernizing visuals but missing a deeper "why." The 2013 film, for example, made $84 million worldwide, proving audience interest, but many felt it lacked genuine empathy for its protagonist and failed to build the devastating tension the story deserves.

That's where Mike Flanagan steps in. He's not interested in a shot-for-shot remake. Instead, he’s aiming for a contemporary retelling that grapples with the core themes of the novel—isolation, bullying, religious fanaticism, and explosive power—but filtered through a modern lens. He understands that simply recreating iconic moments won't cut it. He needs to give audiences an actual reason to care about this new Carrie.

"We’re not retelling the story as it’s been told, and we’re not making a show about telekinesis. It’s in there, but that’s not what it’s about... What happens in a world where the internet has created an environment of perceived anonymity? Carrie White in the locker room in every iteration is a horrifying scene. Carrie White in the locker room when people have phones in their hands is a whole different thing."

— Mike Flanagan (Director, Showrunner)

This quote from Flanagan himself really highlights his vision. He's less about the "tragic superhero origin story" of telekinesis and more about the "destruction of a community through these very modern tools." Think about it: bullying isn't just physical or verbal anymore; it's viral, cruel, and relentless online. A crucial layer that the 2013 film couldn’t fully capture, or perhaps didn't emphasize enough, was the suffocating impact of digital cruelty. Flanagan plans to show how Carrie faces exclusion not just at school but across social media, with every cruel comment piling up until she’s ready to erupt. This update feels incredibly timely and makes the series feel necessary in a way previous remakes struggled to achieve.

Why the Series Format Changes Everything for Carrie White's Story

Another huge advantage Flanagan has is the format itself: an eight-episode series. This isn't a two-hour rush to the bloody prom night. As Flanagan has proven with his extensive work in TV, a longer format allows for much deeper character development, a slower burn of tension, and a more thorough exploration of complex themes. A feature film, by its nature, has to compress and cut, often sacrificing nuance for pacing. But an eight-episode arc? That's a game-changer.

This gives Flanagan the space he needs to truly delve into Carrie White's inner world, her traumatic home life under her oppressive, religiously fanatical mother, and the escalating bullying she endures at school. We can expect to see the gradual, agonizing evolution of her powers, feeling every step of her journey towards an inevitable, devastating climax. It means building out the motivations of the supporting characters too – the bullies, the kind teacher, the remorseful boy – making their roles in Carrie's tragedy feel more impactful and less like simple plot devices. The emotional connection, which is the very essence of King's work, can be meticulously crafted, making the audience truly understand that Carrie's final explosion isn't random but the heartbreaking result of everything she's suffered.

This expanded runtime offers a chance to explore the "destruction of a community" theme more fully, showing how various characters contribute to or suffer from the toxic environment. It's about making every step count, deepening the tragedy and making it resonate far more profoundly than any two-hour movie ever could.

Meet the Cast: Flanagan's Familiar Faces and Exciting New Blood

One of Mike Flanagan's signatures is his "Flanafam"—a core group of talented actors he loves to collaborate with. And Carrie is no different! The series features a fantastic ensemble, blending his trusted regulars with exciting new talent.

Leading the charge in the titular role of Carrie White is Summer H. Howell. Horror fans might recognize her from 2013's Curse of Chucky or the TV series Channel Zero. Flanagan himself has praised her casting, noting the extensive 1,800-candidate search and stating, "Ultimately, I think we ended up with the right actor for the part... it's unlike anything that anyone's ever done with the part before." That's high praise, and we can't wait to see her interpretation.

Playing Carrie's intensely religious and intimidating mother, Margaret White, is Flanagan regular Samantha Sloyan. If you've seen her as Bev Keane in Midnight Mass, you know she's perfect for delivering that kind of chilling, righteous fanaticism.

Other familiar faces from the "Flanafam" include:

Kate Siegel (The Haunting of Hill House, Midnight Mass)
Rahul Kohli (Midnight Mass, The Haunting of Bly Manor)
Katee Sackhoff (The Haunting of Bly Manor)
Michael Trucco (Midnight Mass)
Ruth Codd (The Midnight Club, The Fall of the House of Usher)

The ensemble also includes a talented young cast bringing the high school drama to life:

Siena Agudong as Sue Snell
Matthew Lillard as Principal Grayle
Alison Thornton as Chris Hargensen
Arthur Conti as Billy Nolan
Joel Oulette as Tommy Ross
Amber Midthunder (from Prey) as Miss Desjardin
Josie Totah

Matthew Lillard, a familiar face from iconic horror films himself, recently echoed Flanagan's sentiments, promising fans a fresh perspective:

"I read all eight episodes, which never happened. You never get to read everything upfront, but it's all written. And I think that what Mike's done again is taken the core of what Steve has written when he wrote Carrie, and adapted it in a way that honors what Stephen was going for early, and now he's making it relevant for kids today. I don't think that he would have done it if Mike didn't have a really clear, concise, direct refocus of what Carrie is. And nobody needs to see Carrie again. Mike sort of cracked the code, how its relevant now. The shot for shot Psycho [remake]...why would you do that? Just watch the original."

— Matthew Lillard (Actor)

Lillard's comments further solidify the idea that this adaptation isn't just about revisiting a classic, but about recontextualizing it for a new generation, proving that a fresh, meaningful take is indeed possible.

The Pressure is On: What Makes a Stephen King Adaptation Truly Great

Adapting Stephen King is no easy feat. Fans of the horror maestro are fiercely loyal and have high expectations. While King's works have inspired countless films and series, truly capturing the essence of his storytelling—which often delves deep into psychological trauma, small-town darkness, and complex characters—requires a delicate touch. Flanagan has proven time and again that he possesses this touch. From his acclaimed take on Doctor Sleep, a sequel to The Shining (which is its own adaptation challenge!), to his chilling film Gerald's Game and his masterful TV anthologies, he consistently delivers projects that are both genuinely scary and deeply resonant emotionally.

Vernon Sanders, Head of TV at Amazon MGM Studios, clearly agrees, stating, "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." This indicates the studio's confidence in Flanagan's vision to make this classic appealing to a broad, modern audience.

The challenge for Carrie, then, is to balance faithfulness to King's original narrative with innovation that justifies its existence in a crowded landscape of reboots. Be too faithful, and it's just a shiny copy; push too far, and you risk alienating loyal fans. Flanagan's approach, focusing on the human drama and modern social context, seems like the perfect way to walk that tightrope. It's about keeping the core tragedy while adding nuances that reflect the world we live in today, making the story feel both timeless and incredibly urgent.

If Flanagan can pull this off, he'll have done what many adaptations before him couldn't: make a well-known story feel not just new, but necessary. Given his track record, our fingers are definitely crossed.

What We Know About the Release and Where to Watch

While filming has wrapped, we'll still need to be a little patient. Mike Flanagan's Carrie series is expected to premiere sometime in 2026. It will be an exclusive Prime Video production, meaning you'll need an Amazon Prime subscription to dive into Carrie White's world. An exact release date will likely be announced closer to the premiere, but for now, mark 2026 in your calendars!

Frequently Asked Questions About Mike Flanagan's Carrie Series

When is Mike Flanagan's Carrie series expected to be released? The series is currently expected to premiere in 2026. An exact release date has not yet been announced. Where can I watch the new Carrie series? Mike Flanagan's Carrie will be released exclusively on Prime Video. How many episodes will the Carrie series have? The adaptation is planned as an eight-episode limited series. What makes this Carrie adaptation different from previous versions? Director Mike Flanagan aims for a contemporary retelling that focuses on the "destruction of a community through very modern tools," particularly addressing the impact of online bullying and social media, rather than just the telekinetic powers. It's designed to be a deeper character study that reflects modern societal pressures. Sources