New Stephen King Remake Addressed by Director After Fan Backlash (And It Sounds Perfect)

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It’s common to see Stephen King stories adapted for film and television again and again. Last year, we saw new versions of The Running Man – more faithful to the original book – and a TV series inspired by IT that explored some of the book’s unexpected details. Recently, news emerged of a remake that surprised many: The Mist. Director Mike Flanagan, who has worked with King on several projects like Doctor Sleep and Gerald’s Game, is heading the remake. This will be the second film adaptation of King’s novella, following Frank Darabont’s 2007 movie.

When news of a remake of The Mist surfaced, fans were confused. The original film, released nearly twenty years ago, was widely considered a definitive adaptation of Stephen King’s story, and the new version’s altered ending was even praised by King himself as an improvement. Director Mike Flanagan, when questioned about remaking such a well-regarded movie, offered a thoughtful response on Bluesky: he wouldn’t pursue the project unless he had a compelling reason, and he’s been fortunate enough throughout his career to only work on projects he genuinely believes in. He’s confident this remake will be great.

Mike Flanagan Details New Take on Stephen King’s The Mist

Flanagan shared that consistently asking ‘why?’ – understanding the core motivation behind his stories – has been key to his success and helped him become a unique voice in Hollywood. He’s faced this same question – a challenge to justify his creative choices – with previous projects like The Haunting of Hill House, Bly Manor, The Fall of the House of Usher, and the upcoming The Exorcist film. Regarding his new take on The Mist, he clarified he isn’t simply remaking the Darabont film, but instead crafting a new story based directly on Stephen King’s original novella.

“I love Darabont’s film, and there’s zero point in remaking it. Which is why I’m going in a different direction,” Flanagan added. “I learned a long ago never to try to predict what the fans will or won’t argue about (everybody needs to relax, frankly; I just saw a whole chain of people foaming at the mouth over fan-made AI slop posters for The Exorcist)… but yeah, this isn’t a retread. The differences start page 1.”

Let me tell you, after seeing Mike Flanagan’s latest, it really hit me – this isn’t the first time he’s taken on a Stephen King story people said couldn’t be done. His first King adaptation was 2017’s Gerald’s Game, and honestly, everyone thought it was impossible to film. The book is mostly inside one woman’s head, stuck in one place! But Flanagan didn’t just make it work, he showed us that no idea is too strange or difficult to bring to the screen when it comes to Stephen King’s work.

Director Mike Flanagan demonstrated his skill once again with 2019’s Doctor Sleep. He not only adapted Stephen King’s sequel to The Shining while respecting the author’s vision, but also created a follow-up to Stanley Kubrick’s iconic 1980 film – a film King himself didn’t care for. More recently, Flanagan tackled The Life of Chuck, a unique movie told in reverse, featuring Tom Hiddleston primarily in its central portion.

Mike Flanagan has consistently delivered excellent work, so he’s earned our trust with his creative choices, even when they seem unexpected. That means his upcoming adaptation of The Mist is something to look forward to. He’s currently busy with new versions of Carrie and The Exorcist, so we’ll have to be patient before seeing his take on The Mist.

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2026-02-24 19:17