Stephen King Meets Stranger Things In Prime Video's Upcoming Horror TV Show

Published Aug 27, 2026, 10:00 PM EDT Faith Roswell is a Senior Writer on Screen Rant's Classic TV team. Since earning her degree in Creative Writing over a decade ago, Faith has written articles on film and TV from a variety of different angles. Faith now combines her knowledge of psychology with her love of monster movies to give more insight into what makes the best ones. You may have read her Screen Rant lists and features covering horror, sci-fi, and fantasy, or read her Amazon Top 10 book, "Movie Monsters of the Deep." Faith has had an extensive career as a writer, appearing on BBC live radio, researching true crime for Rotten Mango podcast, and writing for publications including Mental Floss, Atlas Obscura, and The Daily Jaws before beginning here at Screen Rant. It was instantly clear to Stephen King fans that Stranger Things was inspired by Stephen King's horror books, many of which tend to feature ordinary people battling monstrous evil from within their small towns. This can result in gore-soaked epics like the IT franchise, as well as cozier coming of age stories like Stand by Me. That said, Stranger Things combined the two through its young stars, body horror, and cosmic terror in the form of the Mind Flayer. Now, some of these elements are set to merge again in one of the biggest horror TV shows of the decade. Stranger Things' Eleven was an immediate fan favorite through her combination of vulnerability and raw power, drawing comparisons to two of Stephen King's best protagonists: the blood-soaked prom queen in Carrie, and Firestarter's Charlie McGee, whose ability to psychically start fires threatened the fabric of the world. In terms of her age, Eleven sat between these two characters, but while the teenage Carrie felt like an ostracized young adult in the 1976 movie, the Carrie in the trailer for Mike Flanagan's upcoming TV show more closely resembles Eleven, potentially turning the story upside down. Mike Flanagan's Carrie Will Bring More Stranger Things To Stephen King Image via MovieStillsDB In the original movie, Sissy Spacek played Carrie White as a young woman whose religious abuse at the hands of her mother kept her as an outsider who understood the world of her peers but was never allowed to join it. On the other hand, Eleven's isolation in the government facility prevented her from viewing the world, let alone participating in it. Based on Mike Flanagan's major Carrie book changes, the titular character is likely to be closer to Eleven in this respect. Flanagan told Entertainment Weekly that instead of being a tyrant as seen in the book, Margaret White is going to be a different kind of character, saying “our Margaret White is a woman who fiercely loves her daughter and wants to protect her from this world.” He described the world that Margaret created as a "private utopia," suggesting that she will be more sympathetic, if misguided. This leaves room for nuance in her relationship with Carrie, and could remind viewers of the power struggle between Eleven and Hopper as he attempted to instill some rules, both fair and unfair. The change in Margaret might have concerned fans of Stephen King's iconic book, but the first reactions to Mike Flanagan's Carrie have been overwhelmingly positive, which is a good sign for another change from the original movie. Flanagan said that his version will explore the global scope of Carrie's abilities through a group of women. This change, likely referring to the TK (telekinesis) gene, will not only bring the TV show closer to the book, but right a wrong from Stranger Things. One of the most unpopular storylines in Stranger Things was Eleven's relationship with her sister Kali. The idea that Eleven could seek out people like her was intriguing, but the episode "The Lost Sister" took her away from the action in Hawkins, added unnecessary characters, and felt like a diversion rather than the end of a journey. However, as Carrie's story resonates with bullying survivors, the idea that she is not as alone as she feels might add an extra layer of emotion, addressing the same idea as Stranger Things but with more thought and careful writing. Carrie Looks Set To Be A Stranger Things Replacement There is no denying that Stranger Things became a cultural phenomenon, but despite some earlier moments of genius, like Eddie Munson's chemistry with Chrissie, and Max's escape from Vecna to Kate Bush's soundtrack, its final seasons were polarizing. Stranger Things' ending suggested that the series had lost its way, and rather than going out with an explosive final punch, the show played it safe and delivered a series of largely forgettable epilogues, leaving space for a replacement that hits the same tone but takes more creative risks. This is where Carrie comes in. Mike Flanagan's Carrie TV adaptation will premiere on Prime Video on October 7, 2026. The fact that Carrie will expand Stephen King's universe suggests that a sequel could happen. While Carrie dies in the original book and both main movie adaptations, Flanagan has teased a major ending change, addressing the possibility of a Carrie season 2. The story, featuring a young woman with formidable psychic powers as she comes of age, is close enough to Stranger Things that Carrie could easily become the show's replacement, while staying true to the spirit of the book. This may be a challenge, but longtime King collaborator Mike Flanagan has proven that he is up to it. Source: Entertainment Weekly Release Date 2026 - 2026-00-00 Network Prime Video Showrunner Mike Flanagan Cast Summer H. Howell Carrie White Matthew Lillard Principal Grayle Samantha Sloyan Margaret White Carrie White struggles through school life after her father's passing in this new adaptation of Stephen King's classic novel. The challenges she faces include bullying, a domineering mother, and the the development of her telekinetic abilities.