Warning! Spoilers ahead for Carrie & Cujo!
Writer/director MIke Flanagan has said he’s done making bleak endings, but this could be a challenge for hisCarrieseries. Known best for his horror works, Flanagan has established himself as a prominent name in Stephen King adaptations. Flanagan has directed the King moviesGerald’s Game,Doctor Sleep, andThe Life of Chuck. He is also working on a new version ofKing’s magnum opus,The Dark Tower.
TheupcomingCarrieshowwill be an eight-episode series on Prime Video. The 1974 book was King’s first published novel and was quickly adapted by Brian De Palma in his 1976 movie of the same name. Since then, other versions have come out in theaters, on TV, and even a musical. Despite the numerous incarnations, a new version is in the works, but will make changes to the story to update it for modern times. However, Flanagan has previously stated that he will no longer end his projects on a bleak note, which will undoubtedly change theending ofCarrie.
Carrie’s Famous Conclusion Does Not End On A Hopeful Note
The Ending Is Part Of The Pop Culture Lexicon
In a 2024 interview,Flanagan stated he would no longer have bleak endingsin his projects. This was not always the case, as seen with his movieOculus, which has an incredibly dour conclusion. However, now that he has children who will eventually examine his work,he does not want dark endings, even if the topic is horrific.
I never wanted them to come revisit those things and be left on a note of hopelessness. And, so, it’s become incredibly important to me that no matter how dark a story gets, there’s always hope and forgiveness and empathy at the end.
This could prove to be a challenge forCarrie, as the story has an infamous ending. Even if someone hasn’t read the novel or seen any of the adaptations,Carrie’s violent and dark ending is known throughout pop culture. Not only does Carrie White kill many of her classmates at prom, she also causes an explosion in town, murders her mother, and dies bleeding in the street.
Flanagan’s Comments Suggest That He Will Change How Carrie Ends
The Story Will Get A Modern Update
Flanagan has already established that his version ofCarriewill make changes to the source materialand update it for a modern audience. While this will likely mean that technology plays a role in this version, other changes could be made as well. In the novel,the story is not told through a straightforward narrative. Some text is pulled from the fictional book written by one of the survivors, Sue Snell, along with courtroom testimonies from other people in town.
An effort to help others like her following the investigations of what happened at prom may be a way to end the series on a hopeful note.
A lot ofCarrie’s ending needs to stay intact. That part of the narrative is too famous to make sweeping changes to and would put all the focus on that one element. However, it is established that Carrie White is not the only telekinetic in existence. It could be that Carrie’s mayhem and destruction remains intact, but an effort to help others like her following the investigations of what happened at prom may be a way to end the series on a hopeful note.
Stephen King Adaptations Have A History Of Changed Endings
Flanagan Has Made Changes To A King Novel Already
Changing the ending of King adaptations has been done several times before. Some changes are confusing, as withKing’s only directed movie,Maximum Overdrive, but others have made the conclusion of the story happier for a cinematic audience. The most prominent example is inCujo, where the young boy, Tad Trenton, is found to have died of heatstroke. In the movie, however, Tad survives the ordeal with his mother. King has stated that he was glad to see this change, and it does ultimately make the story more palatable.
Flanagan has also changed one of King’s endings before inDoctor Sleep. The movie does a fantastic job of not only adapting the novel, but also acting as a sequel to Stanley Kubrick’sThe Shining, which made many changes to the source material. Theending ofDoctor Sleepbrings The Overlook Hotel back, which was not in the novel, but also creates a more cinematic climax. WhileCarriemight not make changes as drastic asDoctor Sleep, it will have to be changed to end with forgiveness and empathy.
Carrie
Cast
Carrie is an adaptation of Stephen King’s iconic novel of the same name, which tells the story of a bullied youth who develops supernatural abilities. Unlike previous adaptations of the work, this version—helmed by Mike Flanagan—will be a series instead of a feature film.
