Every Upcoming Mike Flanagan & Stephen King Movie & TV Show, Ranked by Anticipation

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Mike Flanagan is known as one of the most reliable creators working in horror today, consistently delivering high-quality films and TV shows without a single misstep. He’s rare in that he’s maintained this standard even as he’s moved from smaller independent films to big-budget productions, earning the strong loyalty of both viewers and studio heads. Even his projects that weren’t massive hits, like the 2022 Netflix series The Midnight Club, are still well-regarded for their thoughtful exploration of difficult themes and genuine emotional depth. Because of his consistent success, anything with Flanagan’s name on it immediately comes with high expectations.

For the past ten years, director Mike Flanagan has frequently collaborated with horror legend Stephen King, creating a series of popular adaptations. Flanagan skillfully brings King’s stories to life, as seen in critically acclaimed films like Gerald’s Game and the sequel to The Shining, Doctor Sleep. Even when branching out from horror with The Life of Chuck, starring Tom Hiddleston, the project received positive reviews, demonstrating a strong creative connection between Flanagan and King. Looking ahead, Flanagan plans to continue this successful partnership by adapting more of King’s most famous works.

3) The Mist

Warner Bros. Pictures announced in February 2026 that Mike Flanagan will be writing and directing a new movie based on Stephen King’s The Mist. While any project combining Flanagan and King’s talents is exciting, this one isn’t generating much buzz. The 2007 film adaptation, directed by Frank Darabont, is already highly regarded as a fantastic version of the story. That film, starring Thomas Jane, is particularly known for its incredibly dark and powerful ending, which even Stephen King said was better than his original story.

Because Flanagan is making The Mist as a single movie, he has less freedom to change the story significantly from what audiences already expect. While his version will likely emphasize strong characters and build suspense, he needs to find a way to recapture the fear factor for viewers who are already familiar with the well-known film adaptation.

2) Carrie

Prime Video’s new eight-part series, Carrie, is highly anticipated for 2026. The original 1976 film, directed by Brian De Palma, is a beloved horror classic, but it had to shorten and simplify the story from Stephen King’s novel. This new series will allow creator Mike Flanagan to explore the town of Chamberlain, Maine, and the intense bullying that leads to Carrie White’s (Summer H. Howell) explosive display of power in much greater detail.

The longer format of the Carrie TV series allows Flanagan to delve deeper into the psychological trauma and religious fanaticism of Margaret White (Samantha Sloyan) than a movie would. The series also incorporates elements from the book, like faux-documentary styles such as court transcripts and research papers, to create a more engaging and realistic retelling of the story. Additionally, Flanagan plans to update King’s original narrative to explore how social media affects teenagers, offering a fresh perspective on the classic tale.

1) The Dark Tower

Mike Flanagan’s upcoming take on The Dark Tower is the most eagerly awaited project of his career working with Stephen King. The Dark Tower series, King’s most ambitious work, combines dark fantasy and horror as it follows gunslinger Roland Deschain on his quest to the heart of existence. Flanagan has called this project a lifelong dream, emphasizing how dedicated he is to faithfully adapting King’s complex seven-book story.

Instead of trying to tell the entire story in one movie like the 2017 film, Mike Flanagan plans to adapt The Dark Tower as a five-season TV series, plus two separate movies. This large-scale, multi-year project, tackling King’s most intricate work, is set to be a major highlight of Flanagan’s career. In February 2026, Flanagan announced the scripts for the first season were finished and Stephen King loved them, bringing the series closer to being filmed for Prime Video.

What Stephen King story, adapted by Mike Flanagan, are you looking forward to watching the most? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-02-12 21:41