The Prime Video adaptation of Stephen King’s debut novel Carrie arrives under the direction of horror specialist Mike Flanagan. While the series expands the original plot over eight episodes, one of its most talked-about elements is the re-imagining of the school’s gym teacher, Rita Desjardin, now embodied by Amber Midthunder. At 29, Midthunder brings a blend of youthful vigor and seasoned experience that reshapes the character’s place in the narrative.
Amber Midthunder’s career trajectory before Carrie
Before stepping onto the haunted halls of Ewen High School, Midthunder built a résumé that spans science-fiction, drama, and high-octane action. Her breakout role arrived in the FX series Legion where she played the body-sharing mutant Kerry Loudermilk, marking her entry into mainstream genre television. The same year the show concluded, she joined the CW’s reboot Roswell, New Mexico initially as a recurring character before earning a main-cast spot in the following season.
In 2024, Midthunder portrayed Princess Yue in Netflix’s live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender a role that required a distinctive white wig and earned her recognition among younger fans. More recently, she appeared in the second season of the “Godzilla” spin-off Monarch: Legacy of Monsters cementing her status as a versatile performer in high-budget franchises. Film work includes a supporting turn alongside Liam Neeson in The Ice Road a lead in the LeBron James-produced basketball drama Rez Ball and, most notably, the critically praised 2022 prequel Prey where she played a Comanche hunter confronting an extraterrestrial predator.
Re-defining Rita Desjardin for a modern audience
In Flanagan’s series, Rita Desjardin is no longer the one-dimensional ally of the 1976 film; she is a twenty-something educator navigating a school plagued by cyber-bullying, active-shooter drills, and institutional pressure. Midthunder describes her character as “Ms. D,” a nickname that hints at a harder edge. During an early episode, the teacher admits over a margarita-filled happy hour, “I spent most of the day wanting to smack her,” revealing a conflicted empathy that mirrors the novel’s original portrayal, where Rita physically slaps a hysterical Carrie.
Speaking to a magazine, Midthunder explained, “I have a friend who used to be a professional athlete and now teaches gym. My grandma also taught school. That personal connection made the role feel authentic, because teachers are often under-appreciated, understaffed, and underpaid.” She adds that the series’ writers consulted real high-school students to ensure the depiction of threats—metal detectors, lockdown drills, viral videos—reflected current reality. This collaborative approach allowed Midthunder to infuse her performance with genuine frustration and protective instincts, turning Rita into a “flawed authority figure” rather than a mere plot device.
Modern horror meets contemporary school life
The new Carrie does more than retell a classic tale; it reframes the story within the anxieties of today’s teenagers. By extending the narrative to eight episodes, Flanagan layers traditional horror set-pieces—prom night, the locker-room telekinesis— with present-day horrors such as relentless online shaming and the ever-present possibility of a school shooting. Rita Desjardin becomes the conduit through which viewers experience these layered threats, balancing her personal struggles—like a secret romance with fellow teacher Seth Peist—against the escalating terror surrounding Carrie White, played by Summer H. Howell.
Critics note that this blend of “big-budget scares” and “grounded social commentary” gives the series a fresh emotional core. The show’s commitment to authenticity, from authentic teenage dialogue to the inclusion of realistic safety protocols, underscores why Midthunder’s portrayal stands out. As the series progresses, her character’s arc—moving from reluctant observer to active defender—mirrors the broader cultural conversation about the role of educators in protecting vulnerable students.
With her performance earning praise for both its intensity and nuance, Amber Midthunder positions herself as a rising action star capable of delivering depth in horror settings. The combination of her established genre pedigree, personal connection to teaching, and the series’ contemporary lens ensures that this rendition of Rita Desjardin will remain a reference point for future adaptations of King’s seminal work.
