Summary
- Mike Flanagan should focus on original horror shows like Midnight Mass before diving into his second Stephen King adaptation for Amazon.
- Midnight Mass showcased Flanagan's storytelling talents, proving that he should create more original horror.
- Flanagan's only confirmed projects for Amazon are adaptations, two of which will bring King's stories to life.
Esteemed horror director Stephen King adaptation coming down the pike, but the show shouldn't happen until his three-year-old Netflix project receives a follow-up — even if it's an unofficial one. Flanagan has created a number of beloved Netflix series, starting with The Haunting of Hill House in 2018. Most recently, he directed and wrote The Fall of the House of Usher. And with his horror projects for Netflix proving so successful, it's no surprise that Amazon sought Flanagan for a deal. He's moving to Amazon, where he'll produce more movies and shows for his dedicated audience.
Among the Life of Chuck movie is already finished filming, though it has no release date on Prime Video. However, before his other King project, Flanagan should really follow up on his 2021 Netflix series. Even if he can't create a direct sequel to the show, he should craft something in the vein of Midnight Mass for Amazon.
Every Mike Flanagan Netflix Horror Ranked Worst To Best
Mike Flanagan has managed to reinvigorate the horror genre via a nuanced study of the human psyche. Here's every Netflix horror by Flanagan, ranked.
Mike Flanagan Should Make Another Original Horror Show Before Beginning The Dark Tower Series
He's Only Made Adaptations After Midnight Mass
Given that he's no longer working with Netflix, it's unlikely Flanagan will actually pen a sequel to 2021's Midnight Mass. However, he should follow the well-received horror series with another original show before digging into his second King adaptation for Amazon: The Dark Tower TV series. The Dark Tower has a disappointing history with adaptations. Its 2017 film was critically panned and even Flanagan has already proven he's the perfect person to adapt King's books, as he has a ion for the source material — and he's successfully tackled other King projects before.
After his successful adaptations of Gerald's Game and Doctor Sleep, there's little doubt that Flanagan will recreate The Dark Tower in a way that appeals to fans and newcomers alike. It's something to look forward to from the horror writer and director. However, Midnight Mass proves he needs more original horror shows and movies, so he should break up his King projects with a story of his own.
Midnight Mass Proves Mike Flanagan Needs More Original Horror Shows & Movies
The 2021 Netflix Series Showcases His Talent
Most of Flanagan's Netflix series are adaptations of some kind, but 2021's Midnight Mass is an original series created by him. And while staunch Haunting of Hill House fans may disagree, it's arguably the best show he produced for the streaming platform. Midnight Mass allowed Flanagan to shine on multiple fronts, showcasing his knack for character writing and infusing nuanced discussions about religion and humanity into the narrative. Even those who prefer his other Netflix shows will agree it's a masterclass in storytelling. It highlights Flanagan's talent, but it also leaves viewers wondering why he isn't writing more original horror.
Midnight Mass allowed Flanagan to shine on multiple fronts, showcasing his knack for character writing and infusing nuanced discussions about religion into the narrative.
This seemed an obvious path forward for Flanagan after Midnight Mass debuted, but his follow-up Netflix shows — The Midnight Club and The Fall of the House of Usher — both adapted other writers' works. It'd be nice to see Flanagan return to original storytelling like Midnight Mass during his time with Amazon. However, he'd have to do so in between other projects. As of this writing, his only confirmed TV shows and movies are horror book adaptations.
Mike Flanagan's Only Confirmed Projects Are Horror Book Adaptations
The Life Of Chuck, The Dark Tower, & The Season Of age Are On His Agenda
Although Flanagan has proven his ability to craft original stories, his only confirmed projects for Amazon are adaptations — so it may be a while before he delivers another masterpiece of his own, like Midnight Mass. The movie is the first adaptation viewers can expect from him, with Tom Hiddleston taking on the lead role. Considering The Life of Chuck recently wrapped filming, it's possible the film will arrive in late 2024 or early 2025. And then Flanagan will get to work on his other projects.
The Dark Tower is obviously on his agenda, and so is an adaptation of The Season of age by Christopher Pike. With Flanagan nailing his Shirley Jackson, Edgar Allan Poe, and previous King adaptations, it's easy to see why he's eager to bring more horror stories to life. Hopefully, in the midst of those plans, he'll get the chance to piece together a narrative of his own. It'd be nice if he followed The Life of Chuck with an original series à la Midnight Mass. However, viewers will be ready for Mike Flanagan's next original project whenever it arrives.
