Mike Flanagan’s “Carrie” is streaming now on Prime Video, and the first thing most people want to know is simple: who’s in it?
The series stars Summer H. Howell as Carrie White and Samantha Sloyan as her mother, Margaret. Around them is a large young cast, plus a few familiar adult faces, including Matthew Lillard and Amber Midthunder. All eight episodes dropped on October 7, 2026.
I haven’t watched the show, so this is a cast guide, not a review. I’ve pulled together who plays each part, where you’ve seen them before, and what critics have said about the performances so far.
Quick Facts About the Series
- Platform: Prime Video, streaming in more than 240 countries and territories
- Release date: October 7, 2026, all eight episodes at once
- Creator: Mike Flanagan, who writes, executive produces, and directs four episodes
- Executive producer: Stephen King, whose 1974 debut novel the show is based on
- Studio: Amazon MGM Studios
- Rotten Tomatoes: 86% and Certified Fresh, according to the site’s first-reviews roundup
Amazon calls it the first-ever series adaptation of the book. Earlier versions were all films, including Brian De Palma’s 1976 classic.
The Main Cast and Their Roles
Summer H. Howell as Carrie White
Howell has the hardest job in the show. Carrie is a teenager who has been kept at home by her overprotective mother. After her father dies, she starts at public high school, where she faces a viral bullying scandal and the first signs of her telekinetic powers.
Newsweek lists Curse of Chucky, Cult of Chucky, Hunter Hunter, Clouds, and Spirit in the Blood among her credits. Her casting was revealed in April 2025, before the rest of the main cast.
She has said that she only watched De Palma’s film after shooting wrapped. I like that choice. It means she built the part from the script and not from Sissy Spacek’s famous version.
Samantha Sloyan as Margaret White
Sloyan is a Flanagan regular, with credits that include Hush, The Haunting of Hill House, and Midnight Mass. Here she plays Carrie’s abusive, deeply religious mother.
She has described the love inside Margaret’s maternal instincts as the source of the harm. That’s an interesting angle. It suggests Margaret isn’t written as a pure villain, and several early reviewers say the show gives her more explanation and sympathy than past versions did.
Siena Agudong as Sue Snell
Sue is the guilt-ridden classmate who tries to make things right. Agudong’s recent work includes the Tubi film The QB and Me, along with roles in Resident Evil and F9.
Alison Thornton as Chris Hargensen
Chris is the bully at the center of the cruelty. Thornton is known for Girlfriend’s Guide to Divorce and Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency. In the cast conversation, she describes Chris as someone who was taught that cruelty wins.
Amber Midthunder as Miss Desjardin
Midthunder plays the teacher who tries to help Carrie. You may know her from Legion and Prey. The character’s name comes from the novel, where the gym teacher is Rita Desjardin. The 1976 film called her Miss Collins.
Matthew Lillard as Principal Grayle
Lillard plays the principal of Bates High. He’s best known for Scream, Thirteen Ghosts, the Scooby-Doo films, and Five Nights at Freddy’s. He has also worked with Flanagan on a horror-themed tequila brand, which tells you how close they are.
The Rest of the Classroom
- Joel Oulette as Tommy Ross, who is chasing an idealized future. Oulette is known for Sullivan’s Crossing.
- Arthur Conti as Billy, a character Flanagan wanted viewers to feel conflicted about. Conti was in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.
- Josie Totah as Tina, a character Flanagan said he wanted to expand. Totah appeared in The Buccaneers.
- Thalia Dudek as Emaline, known for Running Man.
How This Cast Compares to the 1976 Film
Brian De Palma’s film starred Sissy Spacek as Carrie and Piper Laurie as Margaret. Both earned Oscar nominations at the 49th Academy Awards. Amy Irving played Sue, Nancy Allen played Chris, John Travolta played Billy Nolan, William Katt played Tommy, and Betty Buckley played Miss Collins.
People ran a side-by-side comparison of the new cast and the 1976 stars, but I couldn’t open that article, so I won’t describe it. What I can say is that the new show has more room for supporting characters. Eight episodes let Tina, Billy, and Tommy become people, not just names on a prom list.
What the Cast Said About Making It
A few details from the cast interviews stuck with me.
- The actors had about a month of rehearsals before shooting.
- Lillard listed the set’s rules: show up on time, no phones, and no script pages during blocking.
- Conti admitted he failed two driving tests, so his driving scenes used a stunt double in a wig.
- Flanagan brought teenagers into the writers’ room, which led to talks with his own kids.
I find the teenager detail the most interesting. The show is built around bullying that follows people home online, and a writers’ room with real teens sounds like the right way to get that right.
What Critics Are Saying About the Performances
Early reviews, as rounded up by Rotten Tomatoes, single out Howell as the strongest performer. Reviewers call her work heartbreaking and nuanced, and some say it makes her a new scream queen.
Sloyan is also widely praised as a standout, mostly for the sympathy she brings to Margaret. Agudong and Thornton get shout-outs, and one review names Lillard and Midthunder.
What Didn’t Sit Right With Some Critics
It’s not all praise. The same roundup lists several complaints.
- Some reviewers say the show isn’t scary enough, with jump scares landing weakly.
- Some feel a short novel has been stretched across eight episodes, with padded subplots.
- Others dislike extra connected-universe material, saying it takes away from Carrie’s agency.
- The finale gets criticism for leaning on setup for future seasons.
- A few say it falls short of Flanagan’s best work, like The Haunting of Hill House and Midnight Mass.
I’d treat these as other people’s opinions until I watch it myself. But they’re worth knowing before you binge all eight episodes in one night.
Where to Watch
“Carrie” streams only on Prime Video. It’s included with an Amazon Prime membership, and new users can start a 30-day free trial. Prices vary by country, so check your local Amazon site.
Have you watched it yet? Tell me in the comments who your favorite cast member is, and whether you think Summer H. Howell can step out of Sissy Spacek’s shadow.