Mike Flanagan Barred Summer H. Howell From Watching the Old 'Carrie', Why?

Mike Flanagan, the director known for the series The Haunting of Hill House, deliberately did not introduce Summer H. Howell to the film Carrie (1976) before shooting his new adaptation for Prime Video. The decision was made so that Howell, who plays Carrie White, would not fall into imitating Sissy Spacek's performance in the classic version. Howell had not even read Stephen King's 1974 novel that serves as the story's source.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Howell revealed that she knew nothing at all about the telekinesis element, the bullying scene, or other iconic details in Carrie's story. "It was a completely new story to me. Maybe also to many people my age," she said. She added that her approach was more about connecting with the words in the script and the character's feelings. "A big part of my Carrie is that she is open, curious about the world, and wants to experience many things."

Howell, a 22-year-old actress from Winnipeg, praised her acting coach who helped her feel free to try different things and bring a unique color to each role. According to her, for Carrie, that freedom came easily. Flanagan himself revealed that Howell stood out among more than 1,400 actors who auditioned for the role of Carrie White because of her highly distinctive approach.

Although she did not watch the old film, Howell was still aware of the iconic pig's blood moment at the prom, which is an inseparable part of the story. On set, the scene was shot with an atmosphere Flanagan deliberately slowed down. "Mike took the time so that everyone would appreciate the moment and remember where we were: 'We are at Carrie White's prom'," Howell recalled. She was glad the crew was not rushed, despite the tight schedule.

"The thing that has never been explored is that Carrie is part of a larger community of women and she never knew it. We're talking about a series, so expansion is inevitable. That's the core of our approach." — Mike Flanagan

Flanagan stressed that Carrie's story has been adapted for the big screen and television several times, so his version had to offer something different. He highlighted an aspect that had never been explored: Carrie as part of a community of gifted women she never knew. "This is a story about gifted women, about young women learning their place in the world and discovering their power—along with all its traps," he explained.

For Indonesia's entertainment industry, Flanagan's approach could be a lesson on the importance of giving actors room to reinterpret iconic characters without the shadow of previous versions. Amid the surge of remakes and reboots, local creators could consider how to expand original stories so they stay relevant to today's context, rather than merely repeating old formulas. Flanagan's Carrie series is scheduled to air on Prime Video, though the exact date has not been announced.

Are Indonesian viewers ready to accept a new interpretation of a classic horror character that is already embedded in the collective memory? What is clear is that Flanagan and Howell are trying to offer something fresh, not just a rehash.