Summary
A subtle detail in one ofMike Flanagan’s most successful Netflix shows perfectly paves the way for an H.P. Lovecraft prequel. Although Mike Flanagan has a few original films under his belt, he is best known for his work in television and movie adaptations of renowned horror novels. His highly acclaimed Netflix shows are also either loosely based on classic horror novels or draw inspiration from the works of some of the greatest horror writers, like Stephen King, Edgar Allan Poe, Shirley Jackson, Christopher Pike, and Henry James.
After hopping aboard as the director for anupcomingExorcistreboot, Mike Flanaganis all set to diversify his portfolio as a horror director. With so many horror adaptations under Flanagan’s belt, it is hard not to see how he would perfectly be able to traverse the works of several other big names in horror literature to the screen. Since cosmic horror is gradually growing from strength to strength in popularity, Flanagan could also helm a TV or movie adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft’s work. Interestingly, one of his shows has already set up a perfect Lovecraftian prequel.
Every Mike Flanagan Netflix Horror Ranked Worst To Best
Mike Flanagan has managed to reinvigorate the horror genre via a nuanced study of the human psyche. Here’s every Netflix horror by Flanagan, ranked.
Arthur Gordon Pym’s Fall Of The House Of Usher Backstory Could Be A Great Lovecraftian Prequel
Pym’s Backstory In The Show Is Loosely Based On Edgar Allan Poe’s The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym
Almost throughout its runtime,Netflix’sThe Fall of the House of Ushermaintains an air of ambiguity surrounding Mark Hamill’s character, Arthur Gordon Pym. However, in a brief sequence, Roderick Usher recalls everything Pym has said about his past, revealing that he went on the Transglobe Expedition when he was much younger. The Usher family’s patriarch emphasizes that Pym experienced things they could not even imagine during the expedition, which makes him who he is today.
As Pym’s name and backstory suggest,his characterization is based on Edgar Allan Poe’s novelThe Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pymof Nantucket. Written in 1838, the book was so influential that even H.P. Lovecraft drew inspiration from it when he pennedAt the Mountains of Madness. From the thematic elements to the narrative structure, from “the cry tekeli-li or takkeli” to the overarching setting,At the Mountains of Madnessborrows a lot fromThe Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym.
Since Mike Flanagan usually creates a mishmash of various literary works, he could combine elements from bothAt the Mountains of MadnessandThe Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pymto weave a perfect Lovecraftian prequel.
Owing to this, it would make sense forThe Fall of the House of Usher’s prequel to loosely adaptAt the Mountains of Madness and feature Mark Hamill’s Pym as its lead. Since Mike Flanagan usually creates a mishmash of various literary works, he could combine elements from bothAt the Mountains of MadnessandThe Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pymto weave a perfect Lovecraftian prequel. This connection between the two tales would not only add more heft toThe Fall of the House of Usher’s overarching lore but also give audiences a much-anticipated Mike Flanagan Lovecraftian adaptation.
House Of Usher’s Arthur Gordon Pym & Transglobe Expedition Explained
There is a lot more to Arthur Gordon Pym’s story and his past Transglobe Expedition experience in The Fall of the House of Usher than meets the eye.
Mike Flanagan Is Interested In Adapting H.P. Lovecraft’s Work
The Director Is Also Capable Of Bringing A Compelling Lovecraftian Adaptation To The Screen
Although Mike Flanagan has not yet dipped his feet in cosmic horror, the director seems interested in adapting H.P. Lovecraft’s work in the future. In an interview (viaSyfy), he revealed that he would “love to do [H.P.] Lovecraft” and even added that he has a copy ofThe Necronomiconon his office table. Given the inexplicable and enigmatic nature of Lovecraft’s work, adapting his stories to the audiovisual medium is no easy feat.
However, Mike Flanagan’s long line of successful horror adaptations suggests he has what it takes to bring a successful Lovecraftian movie or show to the screen. SinceAt the Mountain of Madnessportrays some of the most abstract and ambiguous entities from H.P. Lovecraft’s works and also features detailed and evocative descriptions of the unknown and the unknowable, adapting it will come with several challenges. But, asshows likeMidnight Massand movies likeGerald’s Gamesuggest,Flanagan is no stranger to tackling complex horror stories.
Will Fall Of The House Of Usher Ever Get A Follow-Up?
A Direct Follow-Up Will Likely Never Happen
Unfortunately, sinceMike Flanaganhas parted ways with Netflix, it seems unlikely thatThe Fall of the House Usherwill get a follow-up. Given how the director also has several movie and television projects, likeThe Life of Chuck,The Dark Tower,The Exorcist, andThe Season of Passage, lined up,he may not have the time to accommodate a prequel toThe Fall of the House of Usher. However, since he is open to adapting Lovecraft’s work in the future, he could work on a standalone adaptation ofAt the Mountains of Madness, featuring Mark Hamill as its lead.
The Fall of the House of Usher
Loosely based on the story by Edgar Allan Poe, The Fall of the House of Usher is a horror drama mini-series created by Mike Flanagan (Midnight Mass, The Haunting of Hill House) for Netflix. This modern retelling follows a corrupt pharmaceutical CEO, Roderick Usher, as he is forced to reckon with his past as a curse begins to claim the lives of each of his children.
