Enthusiasts of horror and literature are in for a treat as Mike Flanagan, a seasoned storyteller in the Stephen King cinematic universe, has a new project in the works for his adaptation of Carrie. Initially, Flanagan was hesitant about the idea of an eight-episode mini-series proposed by Amazon, telling Variety, “I initially thought, ‘Why? It’s been done.'”

This reaction is understandable, given that the book has been adapted multiple times before. However, after careful consideration, Flanagan found a new approach that excited him, saying, “I found an answer to that question, and it made me very excited.”

Flanagan then consulted with the renowned horror author Stephen King, with whom he has a productive working relationship, including on his current feature The Life of Chuck. King’s initial response was, “Leave her alone. She’s been through enough.” However, after Flanagan shared his plan and vision for the show, King became interested, stating, “Ohh, now I’m interested, just as a fan. I’m excited to see where this goes.” Flanagan emphasized that King’s approval was crucial, saying, “Once he said yes, then we were off, because if Steve had said no, I wouldn’t do it.”

Flanagan aims to modernize the narrative of Carrie’s struggle to fit in, exploring how her story would unfold in the digital age. He noted, “The thing I would say is the original story is half a century old and it’s wonderful. Its themes were about youth and bullying and the consequences of that. I believe that in today’s modern world, the power of what it means to be a bully, the breadth of that and the impact of bullying, have changed a lot.”

Flanagan hinted that his adaptation will delve deeper into the characters and world surrounding Carrie, stating, “The central tenets are still the same, but it’s about much more than Carrie White.” He also ruled out focusing too much on Carrie’s supernatural abilities, saying, “I can’t really talk about what we’re doing, I can only really talk about what we’re not doing. 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.”

Instead, the new version will explore the destruction of a community through modern tools, such as online platforms. Flanagan explained, “We’re focused way more on the destruction of a community through these very modern tools. 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.”

This fresh take on the story is likely to resonate with contemporary youth-centered dramas, but with a Stephen King horror twist. Fans of Flanagan’s work are eagerly awaiting his unique interpretation of Carrie.

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