Nicolai Haugsted
Horror director Mike Flanagan expresses interest in tackling two of Hollywood’s biggest franchises.
Mike Flanagan is currently at the pinnacle of the streaming world. His eight-episode Carrie series has been available on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories since its premiere on October 7, Amazon MGM Studios reports in its launch material. The series is the latest in a long line of Stephen King adaptations that have become Flanagan’s trademark.
However, the director behind The Haunting of Hill House, Midnight Mass, and Doctor Sleep has revealed a dream that extends far beyond the King universe. In a Reddit AMA in r/horror, he articulated which two franchises he would most like to get his hands on.
These turned out to be two of Hollywood’s most iconic titles: Jaws and Jurassic Park.
Aims to Improve Spielberg Classic Sequels
“Honestly, I wish with all my heart I could make a Jaws movie. Another example of a movie where no one ever comes close to the original, but there’s plenty of room for improvement on the sequels,” Flanagan wrote, according to Deadline.
Flanagan is thus not aiming to touch Steven Spielberg’s original, but rather the less well-received sequels in the series.
Regarding Jurassic Park, he allowed dinosaur-horror enthusiasts to dream.
“A Jurassic movie could also be a blast. I would go really spooky with it. A true dinosaur horror movie would be a blast,” he stated, according to World of Reel.
In the same AMA, he emphasized how much his relationship with major film series has changed since he broke through as an arthouse horror director.
“I spent a large part of my career thinking I wouldn’t do franchises or sequels, and, oops, but I really love getting to play in a world I know and respect and adore, and put my own stamp on it,” he said, according to Deadline.
A Rumor, Not a Confirmed Deal
It is important to note that neither Universal Pictures nor Amblin Entertainment have announced that Flanagan is in contention for a concrete Jaws or Jurassic project. The AMA statement is the director’s personal wish list, not a confirmed deal. In recent years, Flanagan has established himself as one of Hollywood’s most sought-after horror directors, notably with the series The Haunting of Hill House, Midnight Mass, and The Fall of the House of Usher.
Busy on Other Fronts
Even if a Universal executive were to read Flanagan’s wish list, he has his hands full. In addition to the Carrie series, he is currently working on the horror film The Exorcist: Martyrs, and he has also written the screenplay for DC Studios’ upcoming Clayface body horror film, GamesRadar confirms among several industry outlets.
Streaming subscribers can gauge Flanagan’s current form in Carrie, with all eight episodes available on Prime Video.
