Mike Flanagan’s Carrie series premieres on Prime Video

Mike Flanagan’s new eight-episode series adaptation of Stephen King’s 1974 novel “Carrie” has premiered on Prime Video. This fourth adaptation updates the story for the modern era, specifically focusing on how social media and smartphones amplify the cruelty of high school bullying.

Starring Summer H. Howell as Carrie White and Samantha Sloyan as her mother, Margaret, the series explores the protagonist's developing telekinetic powers amidst social isolation. Unlike previous versions, this iteration introduces new characters and mysteries, including a potential connection to King’s “The Dark Tower” universe. The showrunner has indicated that the series could expand into a larger narrative across multiple seasons.

Production details highlight the complexity of the series, particularly the iconic prom scene, which director Mike Flanagan described as a difficult sequence involving extensive practical effects and many moving parts. The series has also been noted for its empathetic approach to the characters and its exploration of the normalization of cruelty in the digital age.