# Stephen King’s New Masterpiece Is Officially One of HBO Max’s Biggest Streaming Hits

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/stephen-kings-new-masterpiece-is-officially-one-of-hbo-maxs-biggest-streaming-hits/
- Published: 2026-07-19T21:30:15+00:00
- Original publisher: Collider
- Original article: https://collider.com/stephen-king-the-long-walk-streaming-hit-hbo-max-july-2026/
- Topics: Celebrity, Entertainment, TV

## Key points

- Mike Flanagan's Carrie adaptation for Amazon MGM Studios debuts in 2026 with Summer Howell starring, modernising King's debut novel for its 50th anniversary
- The Long Walk, a King adaptation that underperformed theatrically at $63 million, has become HBO Max's most-watched film in the U.S.

## Summary

Director Mike Flanagan, behind acclaimed Stephen King adaptations including Midnight Mass and The Haunting of Hill House, is bringing King's debut novel Carrie to television through Amazon MGM Studios and his Red Room Pictures production company. The series stars Summer Howell as the titular character, alongside Matthew Lillard, Amber Midthunder, and Katee Sackhoff, with the goal of creating a contemporary interpretation that retains the novel's horror core. The television version arrives this year, positioned to coincide with the publication's 50th anniversary milestone.

Elsewhere, Francis Lawrence's The Long Walk adaptation has emerged as an unexpected streaming success following a modest theatrical run. Despite generating $63 million globally against a $20 million production budget—a shortfall by commercial standards—the film has resurfaced as the most-watched title on HBO Max in the United States, outpacing major releases including The Mummy, the horror film Undertone, and Deadpool 2. The reversal demonstrates renewed audience appetite for King property across streaming platforms.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.