Diane Lane Joins Scarlett Johansson in Mike Flanagan’s New Exorcist Film
By Chaz Walker
The Exorcist franchise is officially moving forward with a new creative vision, and the cast continues to grow. According to Deadline, Diane Lane has joined Scarlett Johansson in writer, director, and producer Mike Flanagan’s upcoming take on the iconic horror property.
A Franchise Reset After a Rocky Start
Universal Pictures and Peacock famously spent roughly $400 million to acquire the rights to produce a new trilogy of Exorcist films. The plan was to reunite Blumhouse Productions with director David Gordon Green, following their successful Halloween trilogy.
That strategy faltered after The Exorcist: Believer debuted in October 2023. While the film earned $137 million worldwide on a $30 million budget, critical and fan reactions were largely negative, and Universal was hoping for much stronger results. Plans for the announced sequel, The Exorcist: Deceiver, were quietly shelved, and Green exited the project.
Mike Flanagan Takes Over
Last year, Universal handed the franchise to Mike Flanagan, signaling a major tonal shift. Flanagan was said to be developing a radical new take on The Exorcist, and while the film will miss its originally announced March 2026 release date, it is now targeting a March 12, 2027 theatrical release.
Scarlett Johansson was recently confirmed as the film’s lead, and Diane Lane is now officially part of the cast. Jacobi Jupe, who appeared in Hamnet, is also on board and is widely believed to be playing Johansson’s on-screen son.
Story Details Remain a Mystery
As expected with a Flanagan project, plot and character details are being kept tightly under wraps. That has not stopped rumors from circulating.
Industry scooper Jeff Sneider has claimed that Universal originally encouraged Flanagan to attach a major movie star to the lead role. Angelina Jolie and Charlize Theron were reportedly considered before Johansson was ultimately cast. Another rumor suggests the film may be titled The Exorcist: Martyrs, with Johansson possibly portraying a small-town detective facing a supernatural case. These details remain completely unconfirmed.
For now, fans will have to wait for official announcements to learn what direction Flanagan is taking the franchise.
The Creative Team Behind the Film
The new Exorcist film is being produced by Blumhouse-Atomic Monster, Morgan Creek Entertainment, and Flanagan’s Red Room Pictures.
- Alexandra Magistro serves as executive producer for Red Room Pictures
- David Robinson produces for Morgan Creek
- Jason Blum produces for Blumhouse, with Ryan Turek serving as executive producer
Filming is expected to begin soon, with production reportedly taking place in New York.
With Mike Flanagan at the helm and a cast that includes Scarlett Johansson and Diane Lane, this new chapter of The Exorcist is shaping up to be one of the franchise’s most intriguing reinventions yet.
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