Known for his critically acclaimed work on chilling series like The Haunting of Hill House, The Fall of the House of Usher, and Midnight Mass, director Mike Flanagan has been tapped by Blumhouse to helm the next installment of The Exorcist. This move comes after the studio parted ways with David Gordon Green, whose 2023 film The Exorcist: Believer received a lukewarm critical reception.
Flanagan's approach is a radical departure from previous attempts to revisit William Peter Blatty's terrifying universe. Speaking to AlloCiné, he emphasized that this new film is neither a remake nor a remix of the original classic. "This version is completely different from anything that has been done before," Flanagan stated. "It's a new story, and I hope it will really re-energize fans of the franchise."
While promising a fresh narrative, Flanagan assured fans that the film would still tackle the core elements that define The Exorcist mythos, albeit in an entirely new context. "Of course, some essential points will always be present, but it will be done in a very different way," he explained.
The upcoming film is set to star Scarlett Johansson, marking her entry into the horror franchise. She will portray a detective investigating a series of new crimes. The initial synopsis reveals that thirteen years after neutralizing a satanist serial killer, Johansson's character finds herself embroiled in new atrocities linked to her past. Complicating matters, her twelve-year-old son becomes the target of a demonic entity.
This storyline bears a thematic resemblance to The Exorcist III, which also featured a detective pursuing a serial killer with supernatural ties. Joining Johansson in the cast are acclaimed actors Diane Lane, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Laurence Fishburne, and Jacobi Jupe, known for his role in Hamnet. Rumors also suggest that John Leguizamo might take on the role of the satanist serial killer at the heart of the demonic events.
With a release date set for March 10, 2027, the film is currently operating under the working title L'Exorciste, though it may officially become L'Exorciste: Martyrs. Fans are eagerly anticipating Flanagan's unique vision and how he will reinterpret one of horror's most iconic and terrifying tales.