Mike Flanagan hypes up his Carrie star after major cast reveal

Mike Flanagan, who is popular for his horror films, has created buzz for his upcoming adaptation of Stephen King's Carrie on Amazon Prime Video. The show has completed casting the lead roles, with Summer H. Howell being cast in the lead role of Carrie White.

Flanagan, known for his work with both Stephen King and a core cast of actors, publicly endorsed Howell and the remaining ensemble after the official casting announcement.

Reports by Variety and other publications reveal that Flanagan's adaptation seeks to present a new take on the popular tale by centering on Carrie White's life as a bullied teenage girl who enjoys telekinetic abilities and her interaction with her controlling mother, Margaret White, played by Samantha Sloyan.

The cast announcement has been in the spotlight not just because of who is appearing but also because of Flanagan's reputation for getting standout performances from his cast. Flanagan's comments in public and entertainment press coverage imply that he has high hopes for Howell as Carrie and believes the cast has what it takes to create a compelling and emotionally engaging series.

He said,

"I think we looked at 1,800 different candidates for that role, it was an exhaustive process. Ultimately, I think we ended up with the right actor for the part. It took a long time to find her, and I can't wait for people to see what she's doing, because it's unlike anything that anyone's ever done with the part before."

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Main cast and roles of Carrie

Summer H. Howell as Carrie White

Summer H. Howell, who was known for her past work in genre cinema, has been cast as the main character. The show will follow her as she fits in at high school following the sudden passing of her father, gets bullied, and learns of her telekinetic powers. Based on reports, Howell's portrayal is said to add depth to the emotional turmoil and transformation of the character.

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Samantha Sloyan as Margaret White

Samantha Sloyan, a regular co-worker of Mike Flanagan's, plays the role of Margaret White, Carrie's religious and uptight mother. Sloyan has previously worked with Flanagan on shows such as Midnight Mass and The Haunting of Hill House.

Her work portraying Margaret is expected to focus on the character's extreme and controlling personality, which forms the crux of the conflict in the story.

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Matthew Lillard as Principal Grayle

Matthew Lillard, best known for his appearances in Five Nights at Freddy's and Scream, will be playing Principal Grayle. His character will be a factor in how the school reacts to Carrie being bullied, introducing another element to the high school setting portrayed by the show.

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Supporting cast

The cast of the show also includes:

• Alison Thornton as Chris Hargensen
• Thalia Dudek as Emaline
• Siena Agudong as Sue Snell
• Amber Midthunder as Miss Desjardin
• Josie Totah as Tina
• Arthur Conti as Billy
• Joel Oulette as Tommy

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Mike Flanagan's method and collaborations with actors

Mike Flanagan has a common pattern of working with some actors throughout his body of work. Samantha Sloyan's attachment follows this pattern, as she played roles in some of his prior projects. Flanagan's success in developing good working relationships with his actors is repeatedly cited as the reason for the engaging performances in his adaptations.

This regular collaboration is considered a positive in his storytelling style. Flanagan's take on Carrie has been touted as a "bold and timely reimagining" of the classic novel, centering on modern themes with the same essential elements of King's tale.

Amazon MGM Studios is producing the series and represents Flanagan's inaugural TV project under his arrangement with Amazon, having previously secured a series of horror shows on Netflix.

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Anticipation and Release

The official confirmation of the cast has heightened expectations for the series. Although there has been no release date confirmation, the presence of both veteran and up-and-coming actors, together with Flanagan's creative leadership, has raised expectations high for this new series adaptation of Carrie.

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Stay tuned for more updates!