Summary Fans of Mike Flanagan have been dreaming of a new installment of The Haunting series. Unfortunately, since the showrunner parted ways with Netflix, the possibility of a third season has become nil. However, we can tell you exactly what the chapter would be about if Flanagan had his way. When it comes to spine-tingling thrills and eerie tales that stick with you long after the credits roll, few contemporary directors can match the prowess of Mike Flanagan. In his adaptations of classic and new horror stories, the film- and showmaker manages to inject new meanings and insights that often hit close to home. It is safe to say that Flanagan is a true modern master of the visual thriller, beloved by millions. Many of Flanagan's fans discovered the director on Netflix.A Haunting Partnership with NetflixSome of Flanagan's best work has come from his collaboration with Netflix. For instance, there are few people who haven't heard of The Haunting of Hill House, which debuted on Halloween 2018 and became a massive hit, securing Flanagan's successful ride with the streaming giant for over four years until they parted ways at the end of 2022. The 2018 hit miniseries morphed into The Haunting anthology show with The Haunting of Bly Manor, released in time for the 2020 Halloween season. After the chilling and wholesome story, fans were eagerly anticipating the third installment, but unfortunately, it wasn't to be. With Flanagan leaving Netflix, we can be sure that The Haunting anthology will remain a two-season show for the foreseeable future. However, we know exactly what the third season would be about if it happened as Flanagan had planned.Hell House: The Haunting That Never WasIn a foreword to a special edition of Richard Matheson's 1971 novel Hell House last year, Mike Flanagan revealed his personal interest in the story. Flanagan confessed that it was his first choice to become one of the chapters of The Haunting, but the rights issue intervened. 'Had there been a third season [of The Haunting], I wanted that season to be The Haunting of Hell House. It was actually the first title we explored when Hill House was over, but the rights were spoken for and there did not seem to be a path forward,' Flanagan writes in the foreword (via Bloody Disgusting). A Perfect Fit for FlanaganSo what would The Haunting of Hell House be about if it were adapted for the small screen? Matheson's characters are supernatural researchers hired by a dying millionaire to prove or disprove the existence of life after death. To do this, a physicist with an interest in parapsychology, his wife, and two mediums move into a mansion known as the most haunted house in the world. It is notorious as a place that never lets those who set foot inside leave alive. Like Hill House, the mansion in this story has some kind of evil consciousness that traps its new residents in a sinister web of fear, manipulation, and mistrust of one another. With its blend of psychological horror, complex characters, and atmospheric tension, Hell House seems tailor-made for Flanagan's signature style. The fact that the novel will never become part of The Haunting franchise is a huge loss for horror fans everywhere. But let's hope that one day Mike Flanagan will remember his interest in this story and make a movie or a solo show based on it. After all, in a genre where nightmares come to life, anything is possible. Source: Bloody Disgusting.Would you watch a season of The Haunting based on Hell House?In a heartbeat50%Probably not50%
