Matthew Lillard says his main inspiration for Principal Grayle in Mike Flanagan’s forthcoming Prime Video adaptation of *Carrie* was not Stephen King’s novel, but his experience of watching his children move through modern schools. He wanted the character to reflect the pressures teachers face while trying to balance the needs of pupils, parents and staff, giving the series a contemporary perspective on its themes of bullying.

Lillard said he reread King’s book only during filming and did not rely heavily on it for his performance. Speaking to Collider at San Diego Comic-Con, he described Grayle as someone operating within an increasingly difficult education system; the series is based on King’s debut novel but aims to address issues that resonate today.