Following the release of "Doctor Sleep," the sequel to "The Shining," and completing a new installment in "The Exorcist" series, Mike Flanagan has proven himself a creator unafraid to tackle classic film and TV IPs, consistently delivering impressive results. What would it look like if he took the helm of the "Jaws" or "Jurassic World" franchises? These two major IPs happen to be projects he is eager to explore.
During an online Q&A session on Reddit, the creator currently working on the new "Carrie" series was asked which IP franchises he would like to join and how he would innovate them. Flanagan selected two heavyweight IPs, both originally stemming from Steven Spielberg.
He explained, "It's quite interesting—for a long stretch of my career, I felt I wouldn't touch franchise IPs or sequels—but in the end, I couldn't resist the appeal. I truly enjoy creating within worlds I know, respect, and love, infusing them with my personal style and interpretation. Honestly, I've dreamed of making a 'Jaws' movie. The original set a bar that's nearly impossible to surpass, but there's still plenty of room for improvement in the subsequent entries. Making a Jurassic film would also be incredibly satisfying; I'd want to push it toward extreme horror, crafting a genuine dinosaur horror movie."
Flanagan has always excelled at creating horror through supernatural elements. Switching to dinosaurs or giant man-eating sharks to generate thrills would certainly make for an intriguing stylistic shift. Among these, his involvement in the Jurassic franchise seems more likely: according to industry outlet Deadline this August, director Gareth Edwards will leave the series after completing "Jurassic World: Rebirth," with creative differences proving more fatal than an asteroid extinction event. Subsequently, entertainment media The Wrap reported that Juan Antonio Bayona, who directed "Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom," might return to helm the sequel.
While we wouldn't rule out Bayona returning to continue the T-Rex saga, a dinosaur adventure directed by Flanagan would undoubtedly bring a refreshing new style. We sincerely hope Universal Pictures spares no expense in giving him this opportunity, as his greatest strength lies in evoking deep emotions while keeping audiences on the edge of their seats with fear.
In the meantime, audiences can look forward to his next project. His new work, "The Exorcist: Deceiver," is scheduled for release on March 12, 2027, where viewers will see how he interprets terrifying tales of demonic possession and evil children.