Guillermo del Toro Is Already Netflix’s Perfect Mike Flanagan Replacement

It’s understandable that Netflix has struggled to produce top-notch, original horror TV since Mike Flanagan left. His shows – like The Haunting of Hill House, Midnight Mass, and The Fall of the House of Usher – were critically acclaimed and are considered some of the best horror series ever made. Now that Flanagan has moved to Amazon Studios, where he’s starting with a Carrie remake, Netflix needs to find a way to stay competitive in the horror genre. They might already have a plan to keep producing quality horror, starting with .

Mike Flanagan is a well-known name in horror directing, and Guillermo del Toro is right up there with him. Del Toro, famous for films like The Shape of Water and Pan’s Labyrinth, and now Netflix’s Frankenstein, is known for bringing together great storytellers and spooky tales. His recent series, Cabinet of Curiosities, earned a 93% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, suggesting it could become a long-running success for Netflix in the horror genre.

Cabinet of Curiosities Follows a Classic Idea That Has Worked for Decades

Before Mike Flanagan’s longer-form series, most popular horror shows on television used an anthology format. This meant each episode, and often each series, told a completely self-contained story. Shows like Tales from the Crypt and The Outer Limits were structured like procedural dramas, with a new, complete story told within each 45-minute episode.

The new series features extended episodes and stunning visuals, all guided by Guillermo del Toro’s dedication to classic, tangible horror. Like the original Tales from the Crypt, it attracts well-known directors, but Del Toro primarily focuses on filmmakers who have already proven themselves within the horror genre.

Guillermo del Toro’s anthology series featured a collection of talented, though not widely recognized, directors. The lineup included Jennifer Kent, who directed The Babadook, Panos Cosmatos of Mandy, Catherine Hardwicke, known for her work on Twilight, and Guillermo Navarro, the cinematographer who helped create the stunning visuals in Del Toro’s own films.

Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities is similar to a collection of horror movies, with each episode directed by a different, famous horror filmmaker. Directors like John Carpenter, Stuart Gordon, Joe Dante, Tom Holland, and Dario Argento all contributed, each bringing their unique style and delivering strong episodes. Interestingly, while popular, the series Masters of Horror hasn’t been picked up by a major streaming platform and is currently available to watch for free on Tubi.

Flanagan Is a Huge Name to Lose, but Del Toro Could Bring Bigger Names to Netflix

Guillermo del Toro is a major asset, particularly following the acclaim for The Life of Chuck and the news that he’s directing a new version of The Mist and adapting Stephen King’s The Dark Tower for television. Luckily for Netflix, Del Toro has at least as much, if not more, influence with top directors and actors than Flanagan, especially considering his recent success with Frankenstein, which earned him three Academy Awards and nine nominations.

Similar to how Hulu handled its Into the Dark series, extending the episode length of Cabinet of Curiosities to something between a short film and a traditional episode could be a great move for Netflix. This would create a major horror showcase and give up-and-coming horror directors a chance to work on projects overseen by the experienced and award-winning Guillermo del Toro. It would also allow del Toro to collaborate with these filmmakers.

Netflix would likely see a huge boost from exclusive projects with top directors like Jordan Peele or James Wan, or even a final installment of a popular franchise. Attracting such renowned directors would also draw major actors, and with Guillermo del Toro already on board, the potential for a big hit is definitely there.

It feels like every awesome show on Netflix is always fighting for a second season, and this one’s no different, even though critics and viewers both seemed to enjoy it. Guillermo del Toro has even said he’d love to do the first and last episodes of another season, which is amazing! But right now, it doesn’t look like it’s going to happen. Still, with how well Frankenstein did, Netflix really needs to capitalize on Del Toro’s knack for compelling horror while he’s still interested.

Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities is available to stream on Netflix.

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2026-03-27 01:11