The Epic Return: 21 Mike Flanagan Actors Uniting for The Ultimate Fall of the House of Usher

Summary

The Fall of the House of Usher, a Netflix series adapted from Edgar Allan Poe's short story, will have more characters than the original story.

Several actors from previous projects by Mike Flanagan, such as Carla Gugino and Bruce Greenwood, will be reprising their roles in The Fall of the House of Usher. In addition to familiar faces, the series will introduce new characters and include references to other Poe works, such as "The Premature Burial" and "The Murders in the Rue Morgue."

Writer-director Mike Flanagan, known for casting familiar faces in his projects, seems to be assembling his largest ensemble yet for Netflix's adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe's The Fall of the House of Usher. This gothic horror series expands upon the original story, which had a limited number of characters. However, Flanagan's inclusion of numerous actors from his previous works ensures that audiences will need to keep up with a much larger cast in this Netflix production.

21 Carla Gugino

Carla Gugino is an ultimate inspiration for Mike Flanagan, truly his muse. In the upcoming film, "The Fall of the House of Usher," Gugino will portray a character named Verna, although her role's connection to the storyline remains ambiguous. Gugino has previously collaborated with Flanagan on various projects. In the television series "Midnight Mass," she brilliantly portrayed the judge, while in "The Haunting of Bly Manor," she astoundingly played both the storyteller and the older Jamie. Gugino also captivated audiences as Olivia Crain in "The Haunting of Hill House" and stunned as the key protagonist, Jessie Burlingame, in the film "Gerald's Game."

20 Bruce Greenwood

Roderick Usher, one of the main characters in The Fall of the House of Usher, will be portrayed by veteran actor Bruce Greenwood. Although this marks his first collaboration with Mike Flanagan for a TV series, Greenwood has previously worked with the director on two adaptations of Stephen King's works. He played Gerald Burlingame in Gerald's Game and took on the role of Dr. John in the sequel to The Shining, Doctor Sleep. Interestingly, even avid fans of Flanagan may be unaware that Greenwood made an uncredited cameo appearance as a background ghost in one scene of The Haunting of Hill House. In that particular scene, he can be seen standing behind Olivia Crain's shoulder.

19 Michael Trucco

The mayor of Crockett Island in Midnight Mass, Wade Scarborough, was played by Michael Trucco, who has also appeared in two consecutive streaming series and one Mike Flanagan movie. Additionally, Trucco portrayed Frederick in The Midnight Club, a character featured in one of the stories. Fans of Hush will recognize him as Maddie's neighbor's unfortunate boyfriend. While his role in The Fall of the House of Usher has yet to be disclosed, he is set to appear in all 8 episodes.

18 T’Nia Miller

T'Nia Miller takes on the role of the remarkably named Victorine LaFourcade in The Fall of the House of Usher. It's worth noting that this character does not actually appear in Poe's original story; instead, she comes from another Poe short story titled The Premature Burial. In that tale, she portrays a woman who is mistakenly interred while still alive by her lover. Prior to this, Miller portrayed Hannah Grose, the unsuspecting ghost who serves as the manager of Bly Manor, in The Haunting of Bly Manor.

17 Henry Thomas

Of all the actors on this list,

16 Samantha Sloyan

distinguishes himself by having appeared in the most Mike Flanagan productions, encompassing both television and film projects, with the exception of Flanagan's own wife. He showcases his talent in both cinematic adaptations of Stephen King's stories, assuming the roles of Tom in Gerald's Game and the Bartender in Doctor Sleep. In Ouija: Origin of Evil, he makes his first appearance in a Flanagan film as Father Tom. In terms of television series, he captivates audiences by portraying young Hugh Crain in The Haunting of Hill House, Henry Wingrave in The Haunting of Bly Manor, the deeply religious Ed Flynn in Midnight Mass, and the fictional character Freedom Jack in The Midnight Club. His upcoming portrayal of Frederick Usher in The Fall of the House of Usher will mark his remarkable eighth collaboration with Mike Flanagan.

Samantha Sloyan, who will portray Tamerlane Usher, a member of the Usher family, has featured in three television series by Mike Flanagan and one film. In her most recent role, she mesmerized audiences as Shasta, the mysterious neighbor of Brightcliffe Hospice, in The Midnight Club. Prior to that, she delivered a captivating performance as Bev Keane, the primary antagonist in Midnight Mass, and portrayed Leigh Crain in The Haunting of Hill House. Adding an exhilarating twist, Sloyan previously played Sarah, Maggie's neighbor in the movie Hush, who was seen holding a copy of Maggie's book Midnight Mass and expressing her admiration for Riley and Sarah. Notably, Tamerlane Usher's name in Fall of the House of Usher pays homage to Edgar Allan Poe's poem, "Tamerlane."

15 Rahul Kohli

Rahul Kohli is rapidly gaining recognition and winning over fans with his performances in various works by Mike Flanagan. He initially showcased his talent as Chef Owen in The Haunting of Bly Manor. He then portrayed Sheriff Hassan in Midnight Mass and brought the character of Vincent Beggs to life in The Midnight Club. In The Fall of the House of Usher's expansive narrative, he will embody the role of Napoleon Usher, another member of the extended family. It is worth noting that, similar to other characters mentioned in this list, his name is an homage to another character from a different Poe work – Napoleon Bonaparte Froissart, the 22-year-old narrator in Poe's lesser-known short story, The Spectacles.

14 Kate Siegel

Kate Siegel's involvement in several Mike Flanagan productions predates his Netflix contract, which isn't surprising since she happens to be his wife. Initially, Siegel took on various roles in his horror films such as Oculus, Ouija: Origin of Evil, and Hush, where she even had a hand in co-writing. Within Flanagan's Netflix ventures, she portrayed Sally in Gerald's Game, Theodora Crain in The Haunting of Hill House, Viola in The Haunting of Bly Manor, and Erin Greene in Midnight Mass. In an upcoming adaptation of Poe's The Fall of the House of Usher, Siegel is set to bring the character of Camille L'Espanaye to life, who originally emerged in the pages of Poe's tale, The Murders in the Rue Morgue.

13 Zach Gilford

12 Crystal Balint

Crystal Balint joined Mike Flanagan's body of work recently, featuring in his last two projects, Midnight Mass and The Midnight Club. In Midnight Mass, she portrayed Dolly, Wade's wife, while in The Midnight Club, she played the role of the late foster mother, Maggie. Balint is set to portray Morelle Usher in The Fall of the House of Usher. Just like Samantha Sloyan's character, Balint's character draws her name from another Poe work, the short story Morella.

11 Aya Furukawa

Aya Furukawa's body of work may not be extensive, but her involvement in her first Mike Flanagan project was significant. In The Midnight Club, she portrayed Natsuki, a teenager grappling with terminal ovarian cancer and the resulting battle with depression. In The Fall of the House of Usher, she takes on the role of Tina, a character with no established background or immediate connection to Edgar Allan Poe's literary works or personal life. However, considering the other characters on this list and the naming inspirations behind them, it is highly plausible that Tina is a subtle reference to an obscure character found within one of Poe's lesser-known works.

10 Ruth Codd

Ruth Codd, an Irish actress, has made her mark in the industry despite being relatively new, much like Aya Furukawa. In fact, she made her acting debut in The Midnight Club, portraying the complex character of Anya, a troubled individual dependent on painkillers. This breakthrough performance not only captivated the audience but also established Codd as a prominent figure in Flanagan's projects. In the upcoming production of The Fall of the House of Usher, Codd will once again portray a member of the Usher family, this time taking on the role of Juno Usher.

9 Matt Biedel

8 Annabeth Gish

Matt Biedel, the accomplished actor, has once again showcased his talent in Mike Flanagan's recent projects. He portrayed the secondary antagonist, Sturge, in Midnight Mass and played the role of Tim, the devoted foster father of Ilonka, in The Midnight Club. In the highly anticipated upcoming film, The Fall of the House of Usher, Biedel will astound the audience with his portrayal of William "Bill-T" Wilson. Similar to numerous characters in the movie, Bill-T's origins can be traced back to the renowned works of Edgar Allan Poe. Specifically, his character is inspired by the doppelgänger encounter depicted in the famous short story titled "William Wilson," which takes place on the outskirts of London.

Actress Annabeth Gish boasts an extensive career in Hollywood, as well as an extensive repertoire within Mike Flanagan's creative realm. In The Haunting of Hill House, she gracefully portrays the supporting character Mrs. Dudley. Now, in Midnight Mass, Gish takes on the role of Dr. Sarah Gunning, the esteemed medical expert of Crockett Island. Additionally, avid viewers may recognize her from her notable performance as the social worker in Before I Wake. In the upcoming thriller, The Fall of the House of Usher, Gish mesmerizes as Eliza, a character curated with a connection directly to Edgar Allan Poe himself: Eliza Poe was his very own mother.

7 Igby Rigney

6 Robert Longstreet

Young actor Igby Rigney has starred in two prominent projects: Mike Flanagan's Midnight Mass and The Midnight Club. In the latter, he portrayed the compassionate Kevin, a character battling terminal leukemia who finds solace in his connection with Ilonka. In the former, Rigney took on the role of Warren, the younger sibling in the Flynn family. Rigney will now be portraying a fresh character named Toby in The Fall of the House of Usher. While not officially confirmed, there is speculation that Toby's name might draw inspiration from Poe's lesser-known work, the satirical short story titled "Never Bet the Devil Your Head: A Moral Tale," in which an unnamed narrator recounts the tale of his companion, Toby Dammit.

Robert Longstreet, a character actor, stands out as one of few performers on this list who have graced both the big screen and the small screen in the works of filmmaker Mike Flanagan. He initially captivated audiences in The Haunting of Hill House as Mr. Dudley, the kind-hearted confidant of the Crain family. In Doctor Sleep, he took on the role of Barry the Chunk, a lesser foe and member of the True Knot. It comes as no surprise that he also made appearances in both Midnight Mass and The Midnight Club, portraying the town drunk Joe Collie and the janitor at Brightcliffe Hospice, respectively. His character, Longfellow, in The Fall of the House of Usher, possesses the most intriguing and mischievous tie to the renowned writer Edgar Allan Poe. As history recalls, Poe harbored an infamous one-sided rivalry with the esteemed poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

5 Katie Parker

While undertaking smaller roles in the majority of her work, Katie Parker has amassed an impressive count of four previous collaborations with Mike Flanagan. Her initial partnership with him transpired in his debut feature film, Absentia, released in 2011, wherein Parker took on the lead role of Callie. Subsequently, she ventured into The Haunting of Hill House, portraying the character of Poppy Hill, the mentally disturbed wife of William. Following that, she made an appearance in Doctor Sleep as Silent Sarey, a member of the True Knot. Her involvement in The Haunting of Bly Manor showcased her portrayal of Perdita Willoughby. Most recently, Parker assumed the role of Aceso, the founder of Paragon, in Flanagan's The Midnight Club. In Flanagan's upcoming project, The Fall of the House of Usher, Parker will be portraying Annabel Lee, a character derived from Poe's well-known and hauntingly beautiful poem "Annabel Lee."

4 Kyliegh Curran

Kyliegh Curran's exceptional performance in her previous collaboration with Mike Flanagan is testament to her talent. In Doctor Sleep, she portrayed Abra, a young girl possessing psychic abilities, whom Dan Torrance vows to safeguard. Now, in The Fall of the House of Usher, Curran takes on the role of Lenore Usher. Like Annabel Lee, Lenore's name derives from one of Poe's renowned poems, "Lenore," which recounts the tragic tale of a beautiful woman whose life was cut short. We can only hope that Curran's character in The Fall of the House of Usher will not meet a similar fate.

3 Carl Lumbly

The talented Carl Lumbly is certain to bring an air of dignity and diplomacy to his role in The Fall of the House of Usher. While he has only worked on one other project with Mike Flanagan, his portrayal of mentor Dick Hallorann in Doctor Sleep was flawless. In the upcoming Netflix series, he will be portraying C. Auguste Dupin. This inspector is one of the few characters to appear in multiple works by Poe, debuting in The Murders in the Rue Morgue and later appearing in The Mystery of Marie Rogêt and The Purloined Letter.

2 Sauriyan Sapkota

Similar to Ruth Codd higher up on this ranking, Sauriyan Sapkota's first and only appearance in a acting role has been in The Midnight Club, not only in a Mike Flanagan production, but in any production at all. In this series, he portrayed the witty and sarcastic character Amesh, who is dealing with an extremely aggressive form of glioblastoma. In the upcoming movie The Fall of the House of Usher, Sapkota will take on another member of the Usher clan, portraying the character Prospero Usher. It is important to note that this character's name is derived from Prince Prospero in Edgar Allan Poe's gothic short story, The Masque of the Red Death.