Carrie 2026

Mike Flanagan does it again.

I've been a Flanafan since I first watched Oculus, and when it was announced that he and his crew were taking on Carrie, I was instantly excited. Even if it turned out to be trash (it didn't), it would still be a Mike Flanagan version of Carrie, one of the cornerstone Stephen King stories.

I've seen rumors online that Flanagan and King are working toward a full-fledged Flanaverse Dark Tower, which might have made me pee a little when I first caught wind of it. The Dark Tower series is my favorite of King's stories. I mention it because Carrie feels like a quiet first step on a much larger journey and I am here for it.

The acting and casting were fantastic. Summer H. Howell does an amazing job of bringing the idea of Carrie White into a modern setting. Samantha Sloyan was built for the role of Margaret White and pulls off a nuance we didn't get from the amazing Piper Laurie in the original film. There are several points where we, as the audience, are on her side. She's no longer a monster with few redeeming qualities, but a mother trying hard to navigate a world she doesn't want to be part of.

The young actors fill out the cast in a way that never feels forced. Everyone genuinely feels like they're just trying to get through their increasingly pressured lives. I could go on and on about every member of this cast: Siena Agudong, Alison Thornton, Amber Midthunder, Heather Graham, and more. All amazing.

I have to give special mention to the Flanaverse favorites, though. The talented and beautiful Kate Siegel creates yet another version of herself for the Tower. My longstanding crush Katee Sackhoff shows up, and yes, Tricia Helfer, we saw you hiding in there. I audibly gasped when Ruth Codd appeared for the first time. Rahul Kohli, Michael Trucco, and Crystal Balint all bring their touch to another Flanagan property. And are we watching the impeccable Matthew Lillard become a Flanafave, landing a heftier part after his smaller role in The Life of Chuck? pretty please?

Season 2 is confirmed, out of what Flanagan hopes will be a three-season arc, and I'm excited to see where this road takes us.

Well done all around!

P.S. Chris Hargensen is CarrieRed.