'Carrie' going from page to Prime

Express Tribune

05-06-2025

Great news for horror lovers: Amazon has officially announced that it will be producing a series based on Carrie, one of Stephen King's most iconic and widely acclaimed novels, originally published in 1974.
As reported by Variety, the show is described as a "bold and timely reimagining of the story of misfit high-schooler Carrie White (Howell), who has spent her life in seclusion with her domineering mother. After her father's sudden and untimely death, Carrie finds herself contending with the alien landscape of public high school, a bullying scandal that shatters her community, and the emergence of mysterious telekinetic powers."
Cast and crew
The upcoming series will be directed by acclaimed horror filmmaker Mike Flanagan, known for his work on projects such as The Haunting of Hill House and Midnight Mass. Flanagan will also serve as executive producer, showrunner, and writer, alongside Trevor Macy as executive producer. The show, produced by Amazon MGM Studios, is set to premiere on Amazon Prime, adding to the platform's growing list of original horror content.
In April, in an interview with Variety, Vernon Sanders, head of television for Amazon MGM Studios, said: "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."
According to Variety, ten actors have already been confirmed as series regulars. Leading the cast as the titular character Carrie White, Summer H Howell brings with her an impressive background in the horror genre. She began her acting career at the young age of eight, when she was cast as Alice in the cult horror film Curse of Chucky (2013), directed by Don Mancini.
Since then, Howell has gone on to appear in several other horror and thriller films, including Cult of Chucky (2017), The Midnight Man (2016), All Fun and Games (2023), and Spirit in the Blood (2024), among others. Her experience in the genre gives hope for a stellar performance in the lead role.
Playing her mother, Margaret White, is Samantha Sloyan who has been a recurring collaborator of Flanagan. She has starred in his shows The Haunting of Hill House, The Fall of the House of Usher, The Midnight Club, and Midnight Mass. Sloyan also appeared in Flanagan's 2016 film Hush.
Joining them are Siena Agudong as Sue Snell, Alison Thornton as Chris Hargensen, Thalia Dudek as Emaline, Amber Midthunder as Miss Desjardin, Josie Totah as Tina, Arthur Conti as Billy, and Joel Oulette as Tommy.
According to Variety, the Carrie series was first reported to be in development at Amazon in October 2024. After several months of planning and pre-production, the show officially received the green light in April 2025. Amazon has ordered a total of eight episodes for the first season, with production scheduled to begin in Vancouver, Canada, in the coming weeks.
A rich legacy
King's Carrie has previously been adapted multiple times. The first adaptation was directed by Brian De Palma in 1976, starring the award-winning actor Sissy Spacek. A sequel to the 1976 film, titled The Rage: Carrie 2, was released in 1999. It was directed by Katt Shea and featured Emily Bergl in her debut role.
In 1988, a musical theatre adaptation by the Royal Shakespeare Company was performed five times at the Virginia Theatre before closing. This proved to be one of Broadway's most infamous failures, losing $7 million. However, in 2012, an off-Broadway revival of Carrie as a musical was staged to more favourable reviews. Later, in 2018, the popular television series Riverdale aired an episode inspired by the musical.
In 2002, another adaptation of Carrie was produced as a television film, also filmed in Vancouver. It was created by Trilogy Entertainment Group and MGM Television, intended as a pilot for a potential TV series.
In 2013, Carrie was adapted again for film, this time directed by Kimberly Peirce. This version featured a star-studded Hollywood cast, with Chloë Grace Moretz as the titular character and Julianne Moore as Margaret White. The ensemble also included Judy Greer, Portia Doubleday, Gabriella Wilde, Ansel Elgort, and Alex Russell.