Stephen King fans absolutely lost it when news broke that Mike Flanagan is developing a new version of The Mist—but the horror mastermind says everyone needs to take a deep breath.
The backlash was swift and loud. Frank Darabont’s 2007 adaptation of The Mist remains a cult favorite, especially because of its famously gut-punch ending. So when it was announced that Flanagan—already responsible for King adaptations like Gerald’s Game and Doctor Sleep—was stepping into the fog, social media erupted with furious “Why?!” posts.
Now, Flanagan is firing back. Responding to a fan online, the director insisted there’s a strong creative reason behind the project. “If there wasn’t an excellent answer to ‘why,’ I wouldn’t do it,” he wrote, reminding critics that he faced the same skepticism before tackling The Haunting of Hill House, Bly Manor, House of Usher, and even The Life of Chuck. All of those projects went on to earn major praise.
But here’s the bombshell: Flanagan says this is not a remake. At all. He made it crystal clear that he has no interest in retreading Darabont’s film. “I love Darabont’s movie, and there’s zero point in remaking it. Which is why I’m going in a different direction,” he explained. According to Flanagan, the differences begin “page 1,” hinting that his version will take King’s original novella in a bold new direction rather than recycling what fans already know.
For now, details are locked tighter than a supermarket during an eldritch invasion. With Flanagan juggling multiple projects—including a Carrie series and a new Exorcist film—it’s unlikely his Mist will roll in before 2028. But if his track record is any indication, this storm might just be worth waiting for.
