the mist movie poster
By
Dhruv Sharma
Published Feb 15, 2026, 10:30 PM EST
Dhruv is a Lead Writer in Screen Rant's New TV division. He has been consistently contributing to the website for over two years and has written thousands of articles covering streaming trends, movie/TV analysis, and pop culture breakdowns.
Before Screen Rant, he was a Senior Writer for The Cinemaholic, covering everything from anime to television, from reality TV to movies.
After high school, he was on his way to become a Civil Engineer. However, he soon realized that writing was his true calling. As a result, he took a leap and never looked back.
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Mike Flanagan has another Stephen King movie project under his belt, which could serve as the perfect rival to James Wan's upcoming Lovecraft adaptation.
When it comes to delivering acclaimed Stephen King adaptations, Mike Flanagan is yet to stumble. Although not all of his takes on Stephen King's books have been box office hits, all his adaptations of the King of Horror's works have earned almost unanimous acclaim. Owing to this, it is hard not to be hyped that he will soon helm another popular Stephen King novel.
Interestingly, the book he will adapt this time is one of the most Lovecraftian works in Stephen King's catalog, making the movie adaptation the perfect competitor to James Wan's upcoming take on an HP Lovecraft story.
Mike Flanagan Is Adapting One Of The Most Lovecraftian Stephen King Stories
The survivors looking scared in The Mist
As reports confirm, Mike Flanagan will be working on a new adaptation of Stephen King's The Mist. The Mist has already been adapted for the big and small screens. Its big-screen adaptation has also garnered a cult following because of its bleak, Lovecraftian ending. Speaking of Lovecraftian, The Mist is undoubtedly the closest Stephen King has even gotten to capturing the essence of HP Lovecraft's brand of horror.
Books like Revival also have traces of cosmic horror, but The Mist seems to have almost all the ingredients that define HP Lovecraft's "fear of the unknown." From gateways to horrifying alternate worlds to giant Cthulhu-like creatures, The Mist seems to have it all.
Even from a thematic standpoint, The Mist serves as a harrowing reminder of humanity's insignificance in the vastness of the universe. All these elements make it the perfect combination of several HP Lovecraft stories, like From Beyond, At the Mountain of Madness, and The Call of Cthulhu.
Interestingly, Mike Flanagan has not yet dabbled with pure Lovecraftian horror. The Mist will be his first cosmic horror adaptation, allowing him to explore uncharted territory while still putting his horror direction forte on full display. He has previously shown an interest in adapting Lovecraft's works by claiming (via Syfy) that he would "love to do [H.P.] Lovecraft."
Owing to this, it would be interesting to see how his take on The Mist will turn out, especially since the original book already has a great adaptation.
Mike Flanagan’s The Mist Can Be The Perfect Rival To James Wan’s The Call Of Cthulhu
Mike Flanagan is not the only director working on an exciting cosmic horror adaptation. As reports reveal, James Wan, too, has been developing a movie adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft's The Call of Cthulhu. He has called it his dream project, and, like Flanagan, it will be the first time he will direct a pure Lovecraftian film.
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Dive into the world of movies and TV shows with Screen Rant, your source for news, reviews, and exclusive content. Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.With two of the biggest powerhouses in horror working on Lovecraftian films, the coming years could finally see cosmic horror receive the large-scale cinematic treatment it has long deserved.
Depending on their release timelines, the two movies could also become potential rivals. However, Mike Flanagan's take on Stephen King's The Mist seems to have better odds of succeeding because the original book only borrows Lovecraftian elements and has a more tangible story. The Call of Cthulhu, in contrast, is more abstract and driven by atmosphere, making it far more challenging to translate to the screen.
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Mike Flanagan
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Discover the latest news and filmography for Stephen King, known for The Dark Tower series, The Stand, IT, The Shining, Carrie, Cujo, Misery, the Bill Hodges trilogy, and more.
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