Mike Flanagan Turns 'Carrie' Into a Gen Z Nightmare (with Ashley Reese)

This week, writer Ashley Reese (@offbeatorbit) joins Sophie and Rudi to discuss “Carrie,” Prime Video’s new streaming adaptation of Stephen King’s debut horror novel from 1974.

Created by writer-director Mike Flanagan (“The Haunting of Hill House”), the eight-episode series modernizes “Carrie” for a Gen Z audience with Summer H. Howell as the titular teenager with telekinetic powers alongside a cast that includes Flanagan regulars Samantha Sloyan (“Midnight Mass”), Matthew Lillard (“The Life of Chuck”) and Rahul Kohli (“The Rise and Fall of the House of Usher”).

Before discussing “Carrie,” they introduce their guest, discuss the book she’s writing (00:01:38) and ask Ashley why she picked this show for her appearance on the podcast. (00:04:40).

After going around and sharing their spoiler-free thoughts on the series (00:005:30), Sophie gives some history on King’s book, which was rescued from the trash by his wife (00:09:47). Then they discuss other “Carrie” adaptations throughout the years — including Brian De Palma’s Oscar-nominated 1976 film starring Sissy Spacek — before Rudi shares some background on the new series and its creator, Flanagan, a frequent adapter of King (00:15:14).

Next, they discuss the new “Carrie” series and its many changes from both the source material and the 1976 film (00:23:15). Throughout the conversation, they hit on Sloyan’s brilliant turn as Carrie’s mom, Margaret White (00:28:28), how a key early scene is reworked with social media in mind (00:36:00), Alison Thornton’s diabolical performance as the show’s main mean girl Chris Hargensen (00:43:07) and Howell’s winning portrayal of Carrie (00:54:38). Later, they explore how this “Carrie” handles the iconic prom scene and why a new addition to the story nearly ruins the series while also setting up a second season (01:02:19).

Sophie then makes her Sophie’s Choice pick for which she liked better: reading King’s “Carrie,” watching De Palma’s “Carrie” or streaming Flanagan’s “Carrie.” (01:26:46)

Finally, Ashley recommends a classic book that she’d like to see get a new adaptation, which may be happening sooner than she realizes (01:30:35).

Next week, we’re discussing two new film adaptations: director Taika Waititi’s take on Kazuo Ishiguro’s AI robot novel “Klara and the Sun,” starring Jenna Ortega and Amy Adams; and “Wicker,” an expansion of the Ursula Wills short story “The Wicker Husband,” about a fisherwoman with a wicker husband, starring Olivia Colman, Alexander Skarsgard and Peter Dinklage.

It Was A Book First is the podcast about new book-to-screen adaptations. Subscribe now to get new episodes delivered weekly on Wednesdays.

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Hosts and producers: Sophie Vershbow and Rudi Greenberg

Guest: Ashley Reese

Editing: Rudi Greenberg

Social media: Sophie Vershbow

Music: Cliff Blum and John Connelly; music production: Kevin Pons

Logo: Trisha Louise Prieto

Website: Kevin Pfab