Mike Flanagan Says His THE MIST Remake “Isn’t a Retread” of Frank Darabont’s Film
Horror fans perked up when Warner Bros. Pictures announced that Mike Flanagan and Stephen King are teaming up again for a new feature adaptation of The Mist. Considering how much a lot of fans love the 2007, some wonder why remake it at all?
Flanagan has an answer, and he’s making it clear that this new take isn’t just another pass through the fog.
In a recent Bluesky post, Flanagan addressed comparisons to Frank Darabont’s 2007 film head-on, saying the upcoming movie “isn’t a retread” and adding that “the differences start page 1.”
He wrote: “I love Darabont’s film, and there’s zero point in remaking it. I learned a long [time] ago never to try to predict what fans will or won’t argue about […] this isn’t a retread. The differences start page 1.”
He clearly respects Darabont’s version, which makes sense. That film, starring Thomas Jane, delivered one of the most gut-punch endings in modern horror and left audiences debating it for years. It was intense, mean, and unforgettable.
But Flanagan isn’t interested in copying what already worked. He’s going back to King’s original 1980 novella and carving out something that stands on its own.
The Mist drops us into a small Maine town that’s suddenly swallowed by a strange, blinding fog. Inside that mist are creatures that turn the whole thing into a nightmare. A group of townspeople hole up in a local grocery store, hoping they will be safe there.
Of course, this is Stephen King. The monsters outside are only half the problem. Fear spreads fast. Desperation turns neighbors against each other, mob mentality rises, and dangerous extremists gain influence. The real horror becomes just as much about what people do to each other as what’s lurking in the mist.
The novella first appeared in King’s short story collection Skeleton Crew. Since then, it’s had quite the life. Darabont’s 2007 feature remains a fan favorite, and there was also a 2017 TV series adaptation. There’s even an awesome audio drama recorded in “3D Sound” that longtime fans that is really fun to listen to!
Flanagan, for his part, has built a strong creative relationship with King’s material. He directed Gerald’s Game, delivered a powerful continuation of Kubrick’s world with Doctor Sleep, and most recently brought the emotional The Life of Chuck to the screen. He’s also developing a Carrie miniseries for Amazon Prime and continues work on The Dark Tower.
Flanagan understands King’s tone. He knows how to balance supernatural terror with deeply human drama. If the differences truly start on page one, we could be in for a version that leans harder into aspects of the novella that haven’t been fully explored on screen.
Darabont’s movie isn’t going anywhere. It still exists, and it still hits hard. What Flanagan seems to be offering is a fresh path through familiar territory.
Stepping back into that fog with someone who knows King’s world as well as he does sounds like a pretty exciting trip.