Understand
Prime Video adapts Stephen King's Carrie for the social media era
Overview
Prime Video is releasing a new TV adaptation of Stephen King's novel Carrie, directed by Mike Flanagan and starring Summer H Howell. The series updates the classic horror story by setting it in a world dominated by social media, exploring how modern online culture intensifies bullying and public humiliation. While some fans have questioned changes to the source material and characters, the cast and creators argue that the themes of outsider isolation and cruelty remain highly relevant 50 years after the original story.
Key points
- Prime Video's new TV series adaptation of Stephen King's Carrie is directed by Mike Flanagan and premieres on 7 October.
- The adaptation updates the original 1974 novel and 1976 film by integrating social media as a central element that amplifies bullying.
- Summer H Howell stars as Carrie, portraying a more naive and curious character compared to the abrasive version in the original book.
- Showrunner Mike Flanagan notes that modern bullying differs from the past because it is permanently recorded and shared with a global digital audience.
- The series has received an 85% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes, though some reviewers felt it lacked the terror of earlier versions.