First Look at Mike Flanagan’s Carrie Series Reveals a Surprising Absence of Pig Blood

Stephen King’s works have inspired countless adaptations, and last year was no exception, with three films based on his stories (The Monkey, The Long Walk, and The Running Man) and the prequel series It: Welcome to Derry. The very first adaptation of King’s writing was his debut novel, Carrie, which Brian De Palma brought to life in 1976.

Now, after 50 years, the telekinetic high schooler Carrie White is making her return, this time on the small screen.

On Monday, Prime Video unveiled a sneak peek at the upcoming Carrie series. The images depict Carrie in her high school environment, where one can only hope her experience is free of bloodshed. However, the harsh reality of bullying is a prevalent theme, and we see Carrie facing the scrutiny of a likely tormentor. An exclusive set of images reveals moments of Carrie being bullied in the school showers, though the iconic bloody prom scene has yet to be showcased.

Horror maestro Mike Flanagan is at the helm of this project, serving as showrunner, director, and executive producer. Flanagan is well-acquainted with King’s universe, having previously directed adaptations of Doctor Sleep, Gerald’s Game, and The Life of Chuck. The cast includes Summer Howell (Night of the Reaper), Amber Midthunder (Prey), Matthew Lillard (the Scream franchise), and others.

Lillard shared his thoughts on the modern take of Carrie, stating, “There’s a modern adaptation that Mike’s applied to the world that makes it completely relevant. I think that’s the reason Stephen King signed off on this adaptation, because there’s a new approach to bullying.”

Carrie will be an eight-episode series that follows the journey of the bullied teenager as she discovers her telekinetic abilities, culminating in the infamous prom night we all remember. The official description reads:

Misfit high-schooler Carrie White (Summer Howell) has spent her life hidden away inside the walls of her home with her fiercely protective mother, Margaret (Samantha Sloyan). After her father’s sudden, untimely death thrusts her into the unforgiving ecosystem of public high school, Carrie is forced to navigate a viral bullying scandal that tears through her community, the relentless pressure and casual cruelty of the social-media age, and the awakening of mysterious telekinetic powers that rise alongside her adolescence.

While De Palma’s film set a high standard, subsequent adaptations have struggled to capture the same magic. The 1999 sequel, The Rage: Carrie 2, and a 2002 remake both received poor reviews, and another film adaptation in 2013 didn’t fare much better.

With the talent involved in Prime Video’s Carrie series, there’s hope that it will break the cycle of underwhelming adaptations.

Although a release date hasn’t been announced yet, the series is anticipated to start streaming this fall.