Mike Flanagan is currently working on an exciting Stephen King adaptation that promises to be a game-changer in the horror genre. With a proven track record of successfully bringing classic horror novels to both the big and small screens, Flanagan is now poised to take on even more opportunities in the genre that seem tailor-made for his talents.
Interestingly, there was a time when Flanagan had his sights set on adapting Stephen King’s 1408. However, fate had other plans as the rights to the story were already taken, leading Flanagan to take inspiration from 1408 and create his own unique short film, Concealer.
Since then, Flanagan has delved into multiple Stephen King adaptations, including Gerald’s Game and The Haunting of Hill House. His upcoming film and television projects also draw from the author’s rich body of work, with one project serving as an unofficial sequel to one of King’s most underrated stories.
«Carrie» Marks Flanagan’s Second Stephen King Adaptation Featuring Teens with Supernatural Powers After «Doctor Sleep»
Directed by Mike Flanagan, the 2019 film Doctor Sleep serves as a sequel to The Shining, following an adult Danny Torrance still grappling with «the shine.» The movie introduces a new character, Abra Stone, who shares the same supernatural abilities.
Reports confirm that Flanagan is now working on a television adaptation of Stephen King’s Carrie. Given the titular character’s supernatural powers and potential connection to «the shine,» Carrie will mark Flanagan’s second Stephen King adaptation centered around teenagers with extraordinary gifts.
While Doctor Sleep and Carrie may not share direct narrative ties, their common theme of young characters grappling with dangerous psychic abilities links them together. Notably, Flanagan is also developing another television adaptation based on a series of Stephen King books that explores similar character dynamics.
«Carrie» & «Doctor Sleep» Lay the Groundwork for Flanagan’s Adaptation of «The Dark Tower»
Within Stephen King’s Dark Tower novels, there is a storyline involving a group of characters known as the Breakers who use their telepathic and telekinetic abilities to disrupt the beams. While not all Breakers are children, a significant number are, and their exploitation plays a crucial role in later books.
«Young characters like Jake Chambers and Alain Johns in the Dark Tower series also possess «the touch,» a power that may be akin to «the shine.» Considering Flanagan’s exploration of King’s protagonists with the Shine, it will be fascinating to see how he tackles these themes in his upcoming television adaptations.
- Created by Stephen King
- First movie: The Dark Tower
- Next television project: The Dark Tower adaptation
