Mike Flanagan's Stephen King book of the same name, the Amazon TV show was first reported to be in development last October, with Flanagan, who has made a name for himself in horror with shows like The Haunting of Hill House (2018) and Midnight Mass (2022), leading the charge. The series marks the latest in a long line of Carrie adaptations, including Brian De Palma's 1976 film and a 2013 remake starring Chloë Grace Moretz.
Variety now reports that Summer H. Howell is currently in negotiations to star in Carrie, with the actor said to be nearing a deal to play protagonist Carrie White. Reps from Amazon and Howell aren't commenting on the news. The report also notes that, though the series hasn't been officially picked up, a formal announcement will likely be arriving in the near future. The logline for the show, per Variety, is included below:
“[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.”
What This Means For Mike Flanagan's Carrie TV Show
Where You've Seen Summer H. Howell Before
Howell may not yet be a household name, but she is a regular in the horror genre. She will be best known to many audiences for her role as Alice in the Child's Play franchise, playing the character in both Curse of Chucky (2013) and Cult of Chucky (2017), with the former marking her feature film debut. Other horror projects on her resume include The Midnight Man (2016), Hunter Hunter (2020), Harland Manor (2021), All Fun and Games (2023), and Time Cut (2024). She also appeared in three episodes of horror series Channel Zero (2016 – 2018).
Mike Flanagan's First Official Horror Show After 5-Year Netflix Reign Couldn't Be More Perfect & Continues His Incredible Stephen King Streak
Mike Flanagan is working on an eight-episode TV series based on Carrie, and it's the perfect follow-up to his next Stephen King adaptation.
With the show having potentially found its star, Flanagan's Carrie is now one big step closer to making its way to screens. Flanagan shared on Bluesky last November that the show was already six weeks into its writers' room, meaning production could begin this year. If production does get underway in 2025, which seems likely if an announcement is imminent, as Variety claims, then audiences can probably expect Carrie to premiere on Prime Video in 2026.
Carrie is one of two King adaptations that Flanagan is attached to currently, with a Dark Tower TV show in the works as well. Flanagan is also poised to direct a new take on The Exorcist.
Our Take On Summer H. Howell Playing Carrie
The Show Is In Good Hands
Casting a lesser-known actor in the Carrie TV show could be a great path forward for the project, as the show is likely to be the first time that many audiences see Howell in a leading role. She comes with a solid history in horror, but no role that could be described as career-defining, meaning she comes with no baggage as a star that could influence audience's pre-release perceptions. Carrie, however, could certainly become a defining role for her, upping her star power in a major way.
Flanagan's past projects, including The Haunting of Hill House, The Haunting of Bly Manor (2020), and The Fall of the House of Usher (2023), all featured impressive casts, meaning there's reason to be optimistic about his take on Carrie. The King work arguably hasn't been effectively adapted since the 1976 movie, meaning it has an opportunity to break a disappointing trend. With Howell now seemingly in place to star, Flanagan's Carrie TV show could be getting more updates in the near future.
Source: Variety
