Mike Flanagan Is Adapting One of Stephen King’s Most Controversial Endings

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Spoilers for the ending of The Mist are below!

Mike Flanagan has become a well-known horror director, gaining a large fanbase with shows like The Haunting of Hill House and Midnight Mass. He’s also become recognized for adapting the works of Stephen King, having directed Gerald’s Game and Doctor Sleep, a sequel to The Shining. More recently, he released The Life of Chuck, a moving story by King that isn’t a typical horror tale. Flanagan is currently finishing up a TV series based on Carrie and has plans to adapt King’s The Dark Tower as well.

Mike Flanagan is continuing his work with Stephen King stories, and his next project is an adaptation of The Mist. This won’t be the first time King’s novella has been adapted for the screen, but Flanagan is known for bringing his own unique style to the material. The Mist follows a father and son who find themselves trapped in a supermarket with a diverse group of people when a strange fog rolls into town, unleashing terrifying monsters. Flanagan seems like a natural fit for this story, especially considering the previous adaptation famously altered King’s original ending. Now, fans are wondering what kind of ending Flanagan will deliver with his version of The Mist.

The Ending of ‘The Mist’ Is Notorious


Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

A TV series based on The Mist aired in 2017, but it was cancelled after one season, leaving the story unfinished. This version differed significantly from the 2007 film directed by Frank Darabont, who had previously successfully adapted Stephen King’s work with films like The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile. Although those films were prison dramas—quite different from The Mist‘s horror—Darabont chose to adapt King’s novella, generally sticking to the main plot points but making minor alterations, such as clarifying the fate of David’s wife. The biggest change, however, was to the ending.

I’ll never forget the ending of The Mist. King’s original story left you hanging, with the characters walking into the fog, unsure if they’d find rescue or meet a terrible end. But Darabont… he didn’t stop there. He took that uncertainty and amplified it. Watching David, his son, and the few people left crammed into that car, swallowed by the mist, was heartbreaking enough. Then… then he did the unthinkable. David, realizing they were truly on their own and short on ammunition, made the devastating choice to kill everyone except himself. It was already a brutal moment for our hero, but it got even worse. Just moments later, the military drove right through the mist, revealing that rescue was possible. Seeing David realize his mistake, that they all could have survived if he’d just waited… it completely shattered me. It’s a truly haunting and unforgettable conclusion.

Stephen King Prefers the Film’s Ending to His Own


The Washington Post

Frank Darabont, when adapting The Mist, created a stark, conclusive ending. He’s consistently said this ending was heavily influenced by Stephen King. In an interview with SyFy (reported by SlashFilm), Darabont explained he aimed to capture the spirit of King’s writing and take the story even further.

I noticed that Stephen King often explores the absolute worst possibilities in his stories, and I decided to focus on that. I wanted to create a horror movie that truly pushed his darkest ideas to their furthest extent. It ended up being a concept deeply rooted in his own thinking, so much so that he didn’t even fully recognize it until I pointed it out to him.

King immediately liked Darabont’s suggestion, appreciating how the darker ending fit the story. Although the change differed from his original writing, King believes it was a strong decision and even called it “terrific” in an interview with Yahoo! Entertainment.

I completely agreed with Frank’s vision for how to end the film. I thought it was brilliant, especially because it went against all typical Hollywood conventions – it was really a bleak and pessimistic ending, and I appreciated that. I encouraged him to follow through with it. At the time, both critics and fans heavily criticized his choice. But now, looking back on The Mist, people recognize it as a truly great film. It just took them some time to come around to it.

How Will Mike Flanagan End His Adaptation of ‘The Mist’?


Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Flanagan is skilled at bringing Stephen King’s stories to the screen, understanding when to follow the original text closely and when to make changes for the new format. He’s expected to use this same approach with ‘The Mist.’ The big question now is: will he recreate King’s hopeful, but uncertain, ending, or will he go with the famously grim conclusion created by Darabont?

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Since Stephen King reportedly favored the ending of Darabont’s film, it would be logical for Flanagan to follow suit. That 2007 ending is now famously controversial, and many viewers actually anticipate it more than the original novella’s conclusion. However, using that well-known ending could lessen the suspense, as the audience would already know how the story finishes. Flanagan could instead opt for the novella’s ending, but even King acknowledges it’s less impactful, particularly for a visual medium like film.

Another possibility is that Flanagan will write a completely new ending for the film. Instead of sticking to what’s already been done, he might have taken on the project because he has a unique vision for how to conclude the story – something fans wouldn’t expect. While Darabont made King’s story darker, Flanagan could potentially take it in a more optimistic direction. We won’t see Flanagan’s version of The Mist for a while – he might film The Dark Tower first – but he’s set to put his own spin on the famously divisive ending, which is a really exciting idea.



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2026-02-17 01:21