The wait for Mike Flanagan’s take on Stephen King’s first novel is finally getting a bit clearer. Horror fans eager to see how the master of modern horror television handles the story of Carrie White now know when they can expect the series to arrive.
Katee Sackhoff, who stars in the series, revealed during a panel at Fan Expo Vancouver that the show will premiere on Prime Video in October 2026. The timing makes perfect sense, as the streamer looks to add a major horror title to its lineup during the Halloween season.
The eight-episode limited series wrapped filming back in October 2025, and the cast and crew have been keeping details under wraps until now. Sackhoff’s comments give audiences the first concrete timeframe for when they can finally see Flanagan’s vision for this classic story.
The October 2026 Release Window Confirmed
Sackhoff shared the news enthusiastically with fans at the Vancouver convention. “Back to Mike Flanagan, yeah… the Flanniverse… October of 2026, Carrie comes out on Amazon,” she said according to reports from The Direct . “You guys are in for a treat. It’s very good. It’s very good.”
The actress, known for her roles in Battlestar Galactica and The Mandalorian, could not hold back her excitement about the project. When asked about what viewers can expect, she teased the classic elements that define Carrie. “I mean, it’s Carrie. There’s fire? … There might be some blood. Yeah, I’m just excited. You guys are gonna love it” .
Sackhoff also took a moment to praise Flanagan’s approach to the source material. “Mike Flanagan is so good at what he does: smart, psychological horror,” she said. She added that “he’s very, very good at adapting Stephen King, and Stephen trusts him” . This trust is evident as King has given Flanagan access to adapt multiple works, including The Dark Tower series and The Mist.
The Cast Led by Summer H. Howell as Carrie White
The series features Summer H. Howell in the title role of Carrie White. Howell, who previously worked with Flanagan on The Haunting of Hill House, takes on the challenging part of the bullied teenager with telekinetic powers .
Samantha Sloyan, another frequent Flanagan collaborator from Midnight Mass and The Fall of the House of Usher, plays the role of Margaret White, Carrie’s fanatically religious mother . This casting choice has excited fans who have seen Sloyan deliver intense performances in Flanagan’s previous work.
The rest of the main cast includes:
- Siena Agudong as Sue Snell, the classmate who tries to make amends with Carrie
- Alison Thornton as Chris Hargensen, the main antagonist who torments Carrie
- Amber Midthunder (Prey) as Rita Desjardin, the gym teacher
- Matthew Lillard (Scream, Five Nights at Freddy’s) as Principal Grayle
- Thalia Dudek, Josie Totah, Joel Oulette, and Arthur Conti in key roles
Katee Sackhoff and Rahul Kohli are also part of the cast, though their specific roles remain unconfirmed at this time .
Matthew Lillard Praises the Series as a Pure Adaptation
Matthew Lillard, who plays Principal Grayle, has already seen the first three episodes and shared his thoughts about the series. In an interview with GamesRadar+, Lillard described the show as “brilliant” and revealed that it stays much closer to Stephen King’s novel than previous adaptations .
“It’s really a pure adaptation of the book than the original movie was,” Lillard explained. He also shared that Flanagan had already finished and picture-locked the first three episodes before the cast even left Vancouver after filming .
Lillard had nothing but praise for Flanagan as a director and showrunner. “Mike Flanagan, who I worked with on Life of Chuck, he is just the single greatest force of nature in this industry,” he said .
Eight Episodes of Stephen King’s First Novel
This adaptation marks the first time Carrie has been told as a multi-episode series. Previous versions include Brian De Palma’s 1976 classic film starring Sissy Spacek, a 2002 television film, and a 2013 remake starring Chloë Grace Moretz .
The eight-episode format allows Flanagan to explore the story in greater depth than any of the films could. The novel uses a documentary-style framing device with interviews, newspaper articles, and academic papers mixed into the narrative. This structure could work well across multiple episodes, giving viewers more context about the characters and the aftermath of the prom night tragedy.
Flanagan confirmed in late 2024 that Carrie was his main focus among several developing projects. “The new series are an absolute blast so far. First up is Carrie,” he wrote on social media .
What Makes Flanagan’s Version Different
Mike Flanagan has built a reputation for adapting horror with deep emotional resonance. His work on The Haunting of Hill House, Midnight Mass, and The Fall of the House of Usher shows his ability to balance scares with genuine character development and family drama.
The story of Carrie White centers on a teenage girl who faces cruel bullying at school while dealing with an abusive, religious fanatic mother at home. When she discovers she has telekinetic powers, the stage is set for a devastating confrontation at her high school prom.
Sackhoff hinted at the violence fans expect from the story while emphasizing the smart approach Flanagan brings. “There might be some blood,” she said with a laugh, acknowledging the infamous prom scene that defines Carrie .
Flanagan’s version will likely explore the psychological aspects of Carrie’s situation more deeply than previous adaptations. His track record suggests audiences can expect a slow-burn approach that builds tension before the explosive finale.
Production History and Development
Amazon and Flanagan’s Intrepid Pictures announced the project in October 2023. The show moved quickly into development, with Flanagan opening a writers room shortly after the announcement .
Filming began in Vancouver in June 2025 and wrapped in October 2025 . Flanagan shared the news on Instagram with an image of a chair covered in cast and crew signatures, calling it “one of the best experiences of my career, one of the very best ensembles I’ve ever worked with, and already one of my favorite projects ever” .
The quick turnaround from wrapping production to the October 2026 release window gives the post-production team plenty of time to perfect the visual effects and sound design. Given the telekinetic elements in the story, these aspects will be crucial to bringing Carrie’s powers to life.
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Flanagan and King’s Continued Partnership
The Carrie series continues the strong working relationship between Mike Flanagan and Stephen King. Flanagan previously directed Gerald’s Game for Netflix, which King praised highly. He also wrote and directed Doctor Sleep, the sequel to The Shining, and recently completed The Life of Chuck starring Tom Hiddleston .
King has given Flanagan access to multiple projects, including a planned adaptation of The Dark Tower series and a new version of The Mist . Sackhoff noted this during her panel, saying, “As you can tell in the press, Stephen’s giving him his entire library. He’s like, ‘You can do this one and you can do this one. How about this one? How about this one?’” .
This level of trust from one of the most adapted authors in history speaks to Flanagan’s understanding of King’s work and his ability to translate it to screen in ways that satisfy both longtime readers and new audiences.
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