Scarlett Johansson is set to star in Mike Flanagan's "fresh, bold" reimagining of The Exorcist, a horror franchise that Blumhouse and Universal are reviving after their previous ill-fated attempt with 2023's The Exorcist: Believer. Flanagan, who penned the script and will helm and produce the new feature, describes it as an exploration within the "universe" of The Exorcist, which originally centered on the demonic possession of a young girl and the priests who tried to save her.
Inspired by William Peter Blatty's novel and directed by William Friedkin, the original film was nominated for 10 Oscars. Its sequels often delved into the back stories of the priests or other demonic cases investigated by detectives from the first movie. "The Exorcist is one of the reasons I became a filmmaker, and it is an honor to have the chance to try something fresh, bold, and terrifying within its universe," Flanagan said when his involvement was announced in May 2024.
David Robinson, chairman and CEO of Exorcist rights holder Morgan Creek, added, "I think his vision for this franchise is going to stun audiences worldwide." While details on the project are being kept under wraps, Flanagan, known for directing Stephen King adaptations like Doctor Sleep and Gerald's Game, as well as creating TV shows such as Midnight Mass and The Haunting of Hill House, is producing via his Red Room Pictures banner.
David Robinson is producing for Morgan Creek Entertainment, while Jason Blum and Ryan Turek serve as producer and executive producer respectively for Blumhouse. Johansson last starred in Universal's Jurassic World: Rebirth, which grossed over $868 million worldwide and proved that the studio's long-standing dino movie series still has the chomps when it comes to attracting audiences.
