An update on Mike Flanagan’s own production company website, Red Room Pictures, has seemingly confirmed what I posted months ago: the title of Flanagan’s upcoming ‘Exorcist’ reboot is “Exorcist: Martyrs.”
The reboot stars Scarlett Johansson, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Diane Lane, Noah Jupe, Laurence Fishburne, Sasha Calle, and John Leguizamo.
Last year, Flanagan hopped on board to direct two ‘Exorcist’ movies. Blumhouse initially set a March 2026 release for Flanagan’s ‘Exorcist,’ but the film was quietly pulled from the schedule later that year. It is now set for release on March 12, 2027.
Johansson is supposed to play a small-town “rookie detective” who takes on a case involving “inconceivable darkness.” Additionally, sources indicate that Ejiofor will take on the role of an ex-con turned priest, while Jupe will play Johansson’s son. There’s no word yet on who Fishburne might play, but rumor has it he could portray a cop.
That’s the synopsis that was internally circulating in December. The film seems to have no connection to the previous installments; it’s a fresh new concept that Flanagan purposely sought to distance from franchise lore.
Flanagan was given “total creative freedom” on this next chapter of the franchise. Universal and Blumhouse are counting on him to steady the Exorcist brand and push it back into fighting shape after the David Gordon Green-directed disaster.
If you recall, back in 2023, Green called it quits on the franchise and decided to sign on to a couple of indie films instead. After the poor reception of his “Exorcist: Believer,” there were reports that a creative overhaul would be implemented for the next two films, following Green’s own doubts about his future participation.
Blumhouse owes Universal two ‘Exorcist’ movies under its contract. The studio shelled out a $400M investment for the rights to the franchise. “Exorcist: Believer” was panned by both critics (22% on RT) and audiences (“C” CinemaScore) and ended up grossing only $136M.
The Exorcist franchise has grown to six films, with Flanagan’s entry serving as the seventh. While the series has had its highs and lows, the original 1973 classic remains untouchable in the eyes of most. “The Exorcist III” earned a dedicated cult following, but the rest of the sequels have largely been met with negative reviews.
The timing is interesting. Just days ago, on September 21, journalist Caleb Williams posted on X that a director had been found for the Kinberg trilogy. Turns out, Watts might be the guy.