When it comes to modern filmmakers, one of the most beloved in horror has beenMike Flanagan. The filmmaker behindHush,AbsentiaandOculushas made quite a name for himself in the last decade. However, his next film will see the acclaimed director take a break from horror withThe Life of Chuck. It was recently announced that the film will be released next summer by Neon. However, despiteTheLife of Chucknot being in Flanagan’s traditional genre, that doesn’t mean he’s fully left his horror roots behind, as the drama willfeature an Easter egg from his horror masterpieceDoctor Sleep.
Flanagan posted to Instagram over the weekend revealing thatRose the Hat’s famous top hatwill be making a brief appearance in the upcoming film. He specifically wrote:
“From the Prop Collection: Rose’s hat fromDOCTOR SLEEP, which was released in theaters 5 years ago. (This hat also makes a special, subtle appearance inTHE LIFE OF CHUCK…)”
Accompanying the post is a picture of the famous hat itself. Rose was the main villain of theThe Shiningsequel, played brilliantly byMission: Impossible’sRebecca Ferguson.Doctor Sleepwas coincidentally Flanagan’s last film andStephen Kingadaptation. The director has spent the last half decaderedefining the horror genre on TVwith hits likeThe Haunting of Bly Manor,Midnight MassandThe Fall of the House of Usher. WhileDoctor Sleepwas a box office bomb when it released in November 2019, the film has rightfully grown a cult following and is one of the best genre pieces of the 21st century. That’s why it’s nice to hear that its legacy will live on inTheLife of Chuckin a small way.
What Is ‘The Life of Chuck’ About?
Based on King’s 2020 NovellaIf It Bleeds,The Life of Chuckfollows the full life ofCharles Krantz (Tom Hiddleston)in reverse. The film is expected to start on his deathbed, caused by a brain tumor, and go all the way to his childhood. A childhood where he supposedly grew up in a haunted house. While the film will be making itstheatrical debut in 2025, it was the talk of the festival scene this year. That includedwinning the People’s Choice Awardat the Toronto International Film Festival.
The Life of Chuckis being pegged as thebest film of Flanagan’s career, which is saying a lot, but the ensemble cast has received a ton of praise as well. Alongside Hiddleston,TheLife of Chuckis full of Flanagan regulars, likeKaren Gillan,Mark Hamill,Kate Siegal,Carl Lumbly,Heather Langenkamp, andRahul Kohli. There are also new members to Flanagan’s family, likeMatthew Lillard(Scream),Chiwetel EjioforandDavid Dastmalchian(Late Night With the Devil). The film itself currently holds an impressivecertified fresh85% onRotten Tomatoes.
Flanagan Fans Have A Lot to be Excited About
WhileThe Life of Chuckwill be Flanagan’s first film in six years by the time it hits theaters, fans won’t have to wait that long again as his next horror film will be scaring moviegoers in 2026.That would be the latest entry inThe Exorcistfranchise. Something the director himself hascalled his scariest film to date. As fans anxiously wait for his next two films, you can currently streamDoctor Sleepon Amazon Prime Video.
Doctor Sleep
Years following the events of The Shining (1980), a now-adult Dan Torrance must protect a young girl with similar powers from a cult known as The True Knot, who prey on children with powers to remain immortal.
Watch on Prime Video
