Even though most viewers going into the new adaptation will already know how Stephen King’s Carrie goes, the first trailer for the upcoming Prime TV show gives a little too much away. However, one fan thinks they know why that may be.
“What if this is a ‘Scott Pilgrim Takes Off’ kind of adaptation where the entire plot of Carrie happens in episode one, and then it becomes about the aftermath?” said the fan on Twitter.
The first trailer, which you can see below, dropped this weekend at SDCC 2026, introducing fans to the modern version of the 1974 novel, with smartphones and all. However, to say this is the first trailer for a show that is set to release later this fall, it sure does show a lot, from the pivotal bathroom scene to Carrie’s bloody prom dress.
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The fan’s theory does make sense. When the show was first announced, many King fans thought the story wouldn’t be enough for a series, as the novel is on the shorter side by the author’s standards, and fits feature length just fine. It also doesn’t make sense for showrunner Mike Flanagan, best known for his horror shows The Haunting of Hill House, Bly Manor, and more, to let the cat out of the bag so early.
However, Flanagan may use the eight-episode series to explore Carrie’s mental state, and the full effect that both bullying and living with an overbearing mother can have on a teen. As per Prime Video, “the series expands King’s cultural landmark — deepening its characters and tensions, and following the small, everyday choices that build toward a single, shattering night, in a gripping, deeply human story about kindness versus cruelty, and whether we’re witnessing the making of a hero, a monster, or something far more complicated.”
We already know that the series will stray from the original tale in some ways, including when it is set. Unlike the novel or the original Carrie movie, Flanagan’s Carrie White will have to deal with the pressures of social media on top of everything else. Nevertheless, horror fans should worry not, as King himself is on board as producer.
The show stars Summer Howell as Carrie, alongside Samantha Sloyan, Siena Agudong, Alison Thornton, Joel Oulette, Josie Totah, Arthur Conti, Thalia Dudek, Amber Midthunder, and Matthew Lillard.
Carrie hits Prime Video on October 7. For more, check out our guide to all the upcoming Stephen King movies and shows for everything else that’s on the way.
