Mike Flanagan, the helmsman behind Prime Video's forthcoming adaptation of "Carrie," revealed that the production team scoured through over a thousand auditions before settling on Summer Howell for the leading role. "We meticulously reviewed approximately 1,800 candidates for that pivotal part," Flanagan shared with The Hollywood Reporter at the premiere of his latest film, "The Life of Chuck," a collaborative endeavor with "Carrie" author Stephen King. "It was indeed an exhaustive search."
In the iconic 1976 film adaptation of King's 1974 novel, Sissy Spacek famously portrayed the telekinetic teenager Carrie White, while Chloe Grace Moretz tackled the role in the 2013 remake. Angela Bettis brought the character to life in a 2002 TV movie, and Emily Bergl starred in the critically panned 1999 sequel, "The Rage: Carrie 2."
"I believe we've found the perfect actress for the part," Flanagan said of Howell, whose resume includes "Cult of Chucky" and Hallmark's "Crashing Through the Snow." "It took an extensive period to discover her, and I'm eagerly anticipating audiences witnessing her performance, as it breaks new ground for the role."
In addition to Howell's casting, Prime Video announced on Monday that Samantha Sloyan ("The Pitt") will play Margaret White, Carrie's overbearing mother. Sloyan has previously collaborated with Flanagan on the film "Gerald's Game," as well as his series "The Fall of the House of Usher," "The Midnight Club," "Midnight Mass," and "The Haunting of Hill House."
Joining Howell and Sloyan in the "Carrie" series are Alison Thornton, Thalia Dudek, Siena Agudong, Amber Midthunder, Josie Totah, Arthur Conti, Joel Oulette, and Matthew Lillard. "That's merely a snippet of our talented cast," Flanagan noted. "There are several more actors lined up to be unveiled. We commence filming in a fortnight. Though I'm quite exhausted, I'm thrillingly eager to dive back in."
Prime Video has hailed the series as a "bold and poignant reimagining" of King's tale, which chronicles a high school student's struggle with bullies and her discovery of telekinetic abilities.
