Even though Brian De Palma’s original adaptation of Stephen King’s Carrie is considered a horror classic, subsequent versions of the tale, including a 1999 sequel and 2002 TV movie have been, shall we say, disappointing. But that’s not putting Screen Gems and MGM off the idea of going back to King’s original source material for a new film.
The two companies have hired playwright/comic book scribe Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa to start work on a script that plans to go all **True Grit **on the story and work in more of the novel’s plot, which was King’s first big fiction sale.
If you’ve never seen the 1976 film, it follows the tough life of sheltered Carrie White (Sissy Spacek), whose abusive, religious mother (Piper Laurie) makes her life hell. Her time at school is just as bad, as she’s the subject of endless bullying taunts. But the young woman begins to realise she has telekinetic powers and, when her classmates push her one step too far by dumping pig’s blood on her at the senior prom, Carrie wreaks terrible vengeance.
Aguirre-Sacasa is usually to be found working on plays and Marvel titles, though he recently combined his two passions when he was hired to rewrite troubled musical Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark. He’ll also be getting steeped in the trials and tribulations of high school students as he’s snagged a writer/producer’s job on the next season of Glee…