Summary
Mike Flanagan's deal with Netflix has ended, and he has been poached by Amazon Studios. He will be producing projects for Prime Video.
Flanagan is scheduled to direct two films and a TV series. All three ventures belong to the horror genre, affording him the opportunity to showcase his skills in the realm of the frightening and uncanny.
One of Flanagan's forthcoming endeavors entails adapting Stephen King's short story "The Life of Chuck" into a movie. The casting for the film has already commenced, fueling anticipation among fans eager to witness Flanagan's take on more King adaptations.
Mike Flanagan's partnership with Netflix concluded with the release of the miniseries The Fall of the House of Usher, a gothic adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe's iconic short story. However, according to Deadline, Flanagan was approached and acquired by Amazon Studios in late 2022. This new collaboration means that Flanagan will now focus on producing projects exclusively for Prime Video in the foreseeable future. This development has generated considerable anticipation and excitement, and it is expected that Flanagan's work for Amazon's platform will attract a substantial following, building on his successful tenure with Netflix.
Currently, Flanagan is set to direct two films and a television series in the coming years. The potential for each of these projects is boundless, and Flanagan himself has openly discussed them on multiple occasions. While specific details about these upcoming endeavors remain shrouded in secrecy, there is enough information available to pique the interest of his fans. Each project falls within the horror genre, which has become Flanagan's signature domain. Through these movies and shows, he will have ample opportunity to showcase his skills in crafting hair-raising and unsettling narratives.
3 The Life Of Chuck - TBD
Flanagan's Amazon projects do not have official release dates, but a movie based on Stephen King's short story "The Life of Chuck" is definitely in the works. The story, taken from King's 2020 collection If It Bleeds, follows a man's life in reverse chronological order, starting from his childhood in a haunted house and ultimately leading to his death from a brain tumor at the age of 39. Initially, King was hesitant to grant Flanagan the rights to adapt "The Life of Chuck" due to his involvement with The Dark Tower series. However, the author ultimately placed his trust in Flanagan. Fans of Flanagan are eager to see more King adaptations from him, particularly if the upcoming Life of Chuck movie is successful.
Casting has already begun for Flanagan's upcoming Life of Chuck movie, with Tom Hiddleston from Loki set to portray the title character and Mark Hamill, known for his role as Luke Skywalker, confirmed to play Albie. Flanagan will take on the roles of director, writer, and producer for the film under his company Intrepid Pictures. The movie will draw inspiration from other successful King projects like Stand by Me, The Shawshank Redemption, and The Green Mile in terms of its tone. If it can hold its own against these monumental cinematic achievements, it will surely be considered a significant triumph.
2 The Dark Tower - TBD
Flanagan made an announcement in late 2022 regarding his acquisition of the rights to develop a television series based on King's The Dark Tower books. His plan is to spend multiple seasons adapting the books, with King fully supporting his efforts in creating the series. The production of The Dark Tower series is now seemingly inevitable. This series consists of eight books and a novella, blending elements from various genres such as horror, science fiction, dark fantasy, and even Western. The narrative revolves around gunslinger Roland Deschain's quest to locate the eponymous Dark Tower while unfolding mysteries surrounding his life and motivations.
In 2017, there was a film adaptation of The Dark Tower released in theaters, directed by Nikolaj Arcel and starring Idris Elba. However, this adaptation was widely regarded as a major disappointment, as it strayed significantly from the source material. This is why Flanagan's involvement in the story is so exhilarating, as he is more likely to stay true to King's original books. Despite the challenges of ongoing writers' strikes, Flanagan remains optimistic about the project's progress. In an interview with FANGORIA's The Kingcast podcast in August, he expressed his confidence in the current state of the project, stating, "I feel really good about where we are," and adding, "I have every reason to believe that on the other side of the strike, it's gonna be priority #1."
1 The Season Of Passage - TBD
Flanagan's third and final confirmed project is a film adaptation of Christopher Pike's 1992 sci-fi horror novel, The Season of Passage. Deadline initially reported this project in 2021, and it is currently in progress. Flanagan, who previously wrote and directed the Netflix series based on Pike's horror mystery book, The Midnight Club, is an ideal choice for this endeavor. The Season of Passage follows the journey of Dr. Lauren Wagner, a renowned figure, as she embarks on a manned mission to Mars. However, she grapples with the presence of voices in her head and valid concerns about the previous unsuccessful attempt that led to a group disappearing.
Details about The Season of Passage are scarce. Nevertheless, it is exciting to envision Pike's writing being brought to life, as the author has been unfortunately overlooked in film and television adaptations. Flanagan has not divulged much about the project, but he did express on Twitter in 2021, "This has been a dream of mine since my teenage years." Without a doubt, viewers can anticipate Flanagan's wholehearted dedication to the film adaptation. With his track record of brilliance, anything associated with Mike Flanagan instills high expectations. Therefore, fans have every reason to eagerly await the release of this film.
Source: Deadline, FANGORIA's The Kingcast, Twitter