The upcoming Carrie TV show from creator Mike Flanagan is shaping up to be one of the most faithful Stephen King adaptations yet, according to star Matthew Lillard. The actor revealed fresh details about the project, talked about its cast, and teased why fans will find the long wait worth it.
What did Matthew Lillard say about Mike Flanagan’s Carrie TV show?
Matthew Lillard told GamesRadar+ that Mike Flanagan’s approach to Carrie is meticulous and deeply respectful of the source material. “Carrie’s brilliant. Mike Flanagan – who I worked with on Life of Chuck – he is just the single greatest force of nature in this industry,” Lillard said. He explained that Flanagan rehearsed with the cast for three weeks and even created an app to track where the team was during every stage of production. According to Lillard, “He’s so prolific and profound and such a great storyteller.”
Lillard plays Principal Grayle — one of the few adults in King’s novel who shows empathy toward Carrie White. While the character meets different fates across adaptations, Lillard’s version appears set to follow King’s original depiction more closely, in line with Flanagan’s commitment to accuracy.
Furthermore, Matthew Lillard emphasized that the show features three “tiers” of characters: teachers, parents, and students. “It’s really a pure adaptation of the book [more] than the original movie was,” he added, noting that Brian De Palma’s 1976 original film focused on just one aspect of the story, while the TV show brings in plotlines that were previously overlooked.
Praising the cast, Lillard said, “The kids…the kids are freaking brilliant,” and quipped about how impressed he was watching them perform.
Flanagan’s Carrie will happen across eight episodes, allowing the 304-page novel to be explored in its entirety rather than condensed into a single feature. The series, which will be released in 2026, is part of Flanagan’s new deal with Prime Video.
