Scarlett Johansson is set to headline a new Exorcist film from writer-director Mike Flanagan, marking a “fresh, bold” take on the iconic horror universe.
Johansson’s casting follows her recent success in Jurassic World: Rebirth, which earned over $868 million globally.
The project, backed by Blumhouse and Universal, represents the studios’ latest attempt to reignite the franchise, following the poorly received ‘The Exorcist: Believer’ in 2023.Despite bringing back Ellen Burstyn as Chris MacNeil on-screen and earning a staggering £136 million worldwide, the movie failed to generate enough audience response for next sequels.
The 1973 original, adapted from William Peter Blatty’s novel and directed by William Friedkin, followed the possession of a young girl and the priests who fought to save her, earning 10 Oscar nominations and becoming a landmark in the realm of horror movies. Subsequent instalments explored the girl’s later life, the priests’ pasts and other supernatural investigations linked to the first film.
Flanagan, known for ‘Doctor Sleep’, ‘Gerald’s Game’, ‘Midnight Mass’ and ‘The Haunting of Hill House’, said the film is neither a remake nor a direct sequel but will exist within the wider Exorcist universe. He further mentioned that the franchise inspired him to become a filmmaker, calling the opportunity to craft something “fresh, bold and terrifying” an honour.
David Robinson, chairman and CEO of rights holder Morgan Creek, has promised a vision that will “stun audiences worldwide”.
Story details remain firmly under wraps.
