Fans of filmmaker Mike Flanagan’s work know they can count on a few consistent factors when sitting down for a new series: spine-tingling spooky settings, emotionally resonant writing and a rock-solid cast of talented actors. Flanagan’s newest Netflix series, The Midnight Club, is no different.
Welcome back to the Flanaverse.
The 10-episode series follows Ilonka, an ambitious high school senior who takes up residence at the Brightcliffe Hospice after she’s diagnosed with terminal cancer. Though Flanagan has said that his favorite part of making a show for a teen audience is working with the young actors who portray Brightcliffe’s patients, The Midnight Club features actors of all ages from the director’s past projects.
Only the most dedicated Flana-fans will recognize all the actors in The Midnight Club who’ve previously appeared in past Flanagan creations, from the director’s other Netflix series to his numerous horror movies. And Netflix has launched a Flanaverse Collection on the service, bringing the Flanagan Family together in one place, including: Before I Wake, Gerald's Game, Hush, Midnight Mass, The Haunting of Hill House, The Haunting of Bly Manor, Oculus, Ouija: Origin of Evil, Absentia and Doctor Sleep.
Read on to reacquaint yourself with some of the Flanaverse's recurring stars.
Midnight Mass: Gilford played protagonist Riley Flynn, who returns to his isolated childhood home on Crockett Island only to discover a terrible secret.
The Midnight Club: Gilford plays Mark, a nurse practitioner at Brightcliffe, the hospice that serves as the series’ main setting.
Midnight Mass: Rigney portrayed Warren Flynn, the younger brother of Zach Gilford’s character, Riley. Warren is an altar boy, which puts him in close proximity to the island’s sinister events.
The Midnight Club: Rigney’s character Kevin is a patient at Brightcliffe and a member of the titular Midnight Club. He works hard to maintain an air of normalcy around his family and girlfriend, but opens up to his fellow club members.
Midnight Mass: Leeza Scarborough is a young resident of Crockett Island who was paralyzed in an accident before the events of the series. Her devout faith is seemingly validated when she experiences an apparent miracle during mass.
The Midnight Club: Cymone portrays Sandra, another Brightcliffe patient and member of the titular club of storytellers. Sandra shares one thing in common with her Midnight Mass character: Both are devoutly religious.
Midnight Mass: Biedel played Sturge, a devout member of the church on Crockett Island and one of Bev Keane's henchpeople. He seems to blindly follow orders, even when he appears to disagree with them.
The Midnight Club: Biedel's role in The Midnight Club is much more benevolent, as he plays Ilonka’s foster father, Tim. He’s a loving presence who struggles to maintain his composure following Ilonka’s terminal diagnosis.
Hush: Sloyan had a small role in this 2016 film by Flanagan. playing the protagonist’s neighbor, Sarah, who is killed early on in the movie.
The Haunting of Hill House: Sloyan played Leigh Crain, Steven Crain’s wife. She’s troubled by the couple's inability to have a child.
Midnight Mass: Sloyan’s character Bev Keane does whatever she must to defend the church to which she’s devoted her life. Her faith spirals toward fanaticism when she becomes party to Father Paul’s “miracles.”
The Midnight Club: Sloyan’s Midnight Club character Shasta lives near Brightcliffe and spends her days harvesting natural ingredients from the woods, where she encounters Ilonka.
The Haunting of Bly Manor: Kohli made his Flanaverse debut on Bly Manor, playing the estate’s warm and loving cook, Owen.
Midnight Mass: Kohli’s character is Sheriff Hassan, a compassionate law enforcer who attempts to be a voice of reason when things start spiraling out of control.
The Midnight Club: Kohli has a cameo in one episode, as a game designer named Vincent in one of the club's midnight scary stories (“See You Later”).
Ouija: Origin of Evil: Henry Thomas is one of the most prolific Flanaverse actors. His working relationship with the filmmaker began with 2016’s Ouija, in which he played the priest Father Tom. Oh and yes, Thomas first came to fame as that kid in E.T.
Gerald's Game: In Flanagan’s 2017 adaptation of the Stephen King novel, Thomas portrayed the abusive Tom Mahout, father of Jessie Burlingame and the father-in-law of Gerald Burlingame.
The Haunting of Hill House: Thomas portrayed the younger version of family patriarch Hugh Crain, who goes to great lengths to shield his children from the house’s corrupting effects.
Doctor Sleep: Thomas played the bartender in Flanagan’s 2019 sequel to the classic horror film The Shining. (Both are Stephen King novel adaptations, as well.)
The Haunting of Bly Manor: Thomas’s character in this series, Henry Wingrave, is the children's uncle and the house’s current owner, though he generally keeps his distance.
Midnight Mass: Ed Flynn is Riley’s father. He’s devoutly religious, but struggles along with the rest of his family after Riley's drunk-driving incident.
The Midnight Club: Thomas has a small cameo role in a single episode of The Midnight Club. He plays hitchhiker Freedom Jack in Natsuki's scary tale “Road to Nowhere.”
Doctor Sleep: In Flanagan’s The Shining sequel, Essoe played Wendy Torrance, the iconic character originally portrayed by Shelley Duvall.
The Haunting of Bly Manor: Charlotte Wingrave, the children's mother, died before the series’ events. Of course, that doesn't stop her presence from being felt.
Midnight Mass: On Crockett Island, Mildred Gunning, the mother of Dr. Sarah Gunning, begins to experience remarkable symptoms thanks to her faith in Father Paul’s sermons.
The Midnight Club: Essoe has a cameo role alongside Thomas's character in “Road to Nowhere,” as a fellow hitchhiker.
Midnight Mass: Dolly Scarborough is a loving mother who becomes devoted to the church when her daughter, Leeza, experiences a miracle during mass.
The Midnight Club: Balint plays the mother in Ilonka’s Midnight Club story, “Witch.” She passes her powers down to her daughter, though they come at a cost.
The Haunting of Hill House: Hugh Crain tasks Longstreet’s character Mr. Dudley with keeping Hill House’s secrets after the Crain family vacates the premises. Dudley’s own family was marred by tragedy, so he does everything he can to protect his wife and daughter.
Doctor Sleep: Longstreet played Barry, a member of Rose the Hat’s gang.
Midnight Mass: Longstreet portrays Joe Collie, an alcoholic who never forgave himself after the accident that caused Leeza’s paralysis.
The Midnight Club: Longstreet’s character is a mysterious Brightcliffe custodian who seems to appear only in the wake of a patient's death, usually with some comforting words (and fresh sheets).
Absentia: Parker appeared in Absentia, one of Flanagan’s earlier films, as Callie, one of the two sisters at the film’s center.
The Haunting of Hill House: Parker portrayed Poppy Hill, the flapper-esque spirit inhabiting the series’ titular estate.
Doctor Sleep: Parker played Silent Sarey, another member of Rose the Hat’s gang.
The Haunting of Bly Manor: Parker took on another spooky role as Perdita Willoughby, one of the ghosts inhabiting Bly Manor.
The Midnight Club: Parker’s character is a mysterious woman visited by Julia Jayne in a flashback. She has a special connection with Brightcliffe.
A Nightmare on Elm Street: Your bonus entry to the Flanaverse is Heather Langenkamp. Although she hasn't appeared in previous Flanagan projects, horror fans will no doubt recognize her as Nancy Thompson in the Nightmare on Elm Street movies.
The Midnight Club: Langenkamp plays Dr. Stanton, the empathetic leader of the Brightcliffe Hospice. The actor also has a few smaller roles in the resident's stories, including the Devil in “The Two Danas” and a detective in “The Wicked Heart.”
