Mike Flanagan’sCarrieTV show gets a new update, revealing that a horror icon is in talks to appear. Based on the Stephen King novel of the same name, Flanagan’s upcoming horror tv show was first announced last year, with Summer H. Howell later revealed to be playing the title character. As with previous adaptations, including a 1976 film from director Brian De Palma and a 2013 movie starring Chloë Grace Moretz,Flanagan’sCarrieTV showwill seemingly tell the story of a bullied high school student named Carrie White who discovers she has telekinetic powers.
PerDeadline,Matthew Lillard is reportedly in talks to join theCarrieTV show in an unknown role. Lillard will be best known to many for his role as Stu Macher in the originalScream(1996) movie, but he also appeared in Blumhouse’s recent adaptation ofFive Nights at Freddy’s(2023).
It was previously reported that theCarrieTV show will start filming in Vancouver this summer.
What Matthew Lillard’s Casting Means For The Carrie TV Show
It Continues A Strong Horror Presence For The Actor
If Lillard is officially cast,he will join Howell and Siena Agudong, the latter of whom will be playing Sue Snell, Carrie’s school nemesis. Accompanying his role in theCarrieTV show, Lillard is continuing his presence in the horror genre. It was recently reported, for example, that he will be returning in some capacity as Stu Macher in theupcomingScream 7, and he will also be returning forFive Nights at Freddy’s 2, which is expected to release later this year. Lillard also recently collaborated with Flanagan on another King adaptation withThe Life of Chuck.
Though it’s unclear who Lillard is playing in theCarrieTV show at this early stage,one potential character he could be playing is Mr. Morton, the vice principal of Ewen High School. The character was previously played by Stefan Gierasch in the 1976 film and by Barry Shabaka Henley in the 2013 movie. Since Flanagan’sCarrieTV show has been described as a reimagining, it’s also possible that Lillard could be playing a gender-swapped version of another existing character, such as Ms. Desjardins.
Our Take On Matthew Lillard’s Carrie Casting
Will Lillard Become A Frequent Flanagan Collaborator?
One thing that has become clear with past Flanagan projects, which includeThe Haunting of Hill House(2018),The Haunting of Bly Manor(2020),Midnight Mass(2021), andThe Fall of the House of Usher(2023), is thatthe director likes working with the same group of actors across multiple titles. Henry Thomas, Kate Siegel, and Carla Gugino, for example, are all Flanagan regulars. It’s possible that, after a positive experience together on theupcomingThe Life of Chuck, Lillard will become one such regular.
Many questions remain about just how Flanagan will be adapting the King story, but his past projects suggest the show is in good hands.Lillard’s history in horror and beyond makes him a great fit for the series, and it will be exciting to see what kind of role he ends up taking on. More about Flanagan’sCarrieTV show is sure to be revealed over the coming months, but gears are evidently turning behind the scenes.
