Mike Flanagan’s Best Stephen King Series Isn’t Based on a Stephen King Story

Mike Flanagan has become one of the most acclaimed adapters of Stephen King’s work, with hits like Gerald’s Game and Doctor Sleep. Yet his most King-like series, Midnight Mass, isn’t based on any King novel or short story—it’s an original creation. The Netflix limited series, released in 2021, follows a small island community experiencing miraculous events and terrifying omens after the arrival of a mysterious priest. Starring Zach Gilford, Kate Siegel, and Hamish Linklater, Midnight Mass explores faith, addiction, and mortality with the slow-burn dread and character depth King fans love. Flanagan himself has called King his greatest influence, and the series is packed with thematic and stylistic echoes of King’s work, from the isolated setting to the supernatural horror rooted in human frailty. While Flanagan’s direct adaptations like Doctor Sleep and Gerald’s Game earned critical praise, Midnight Mass stands as his most fully realized King-esque vision—proof that he doesn’t need King’s source material to deliver a masterclass in literary horror. With Flanagan’s upcoming The Dark Tower adaptation, fans can expect the same reverence and originality he brought to Midnight Mass.