Mike Flanagan Wraps Production on His Radical New Exorcist
The director behind The Haunting of Hill House has officially finished filming his take on the most iconic possession story ever committed to celluloid. Mike Flanagan's Exorcist movie has wrapped production, bringing together an absolutely stacked cast under the banner of Blumhouse and Morgan Creek. And March 2027 cannot arrive soon enough.
A Radical New Take on a Horror Classic
When William Friedkin's The Exorcist hit theaters in 1973, it changed horror forever. The story of a young girl possessed by a demonic entity and the two priests who attempt to save her remains one of the most terrifying films ever made. But its sequel history has been rocky at best, with only The Exorcist III earning any real respect from fans.
Flanagan's approach is something entirely different. Rather than continuing the storyline of David Gordon Green's 2023 The Exorcist: Believer, which underperformed critically and commercially, Flanagan is delivering what's been described as a "radical new take" on the franchise. He serves as director, writer, executive producer, and editor on the project, making it very much his own vision.
The Cast Is Absolutely Stacked
The star power here is undeniable. Scarlett Johansson leads the cast in what will be her first major horror role since Lucy over a decade ago. She's joined by an ensemble that reads like a who's who of prestige talent:
- Diane Lane (The Perfect Storm, Man of Steel)
- Jacobi Jupe (The Chair)
- Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave, Doctor Strange)
- Laurence Fishburne (The Matrix, John Wick)
- Sasha Calle (The Flash)
- John Leguizamo (John Wick, The Menu)
And that's not all. Flanagan has also brought in a host of his regular collaborators, including Rahul Kohli (The Haunting of Bly Manor), Hamish Linklater (Midnight Mass), Carla Gugino (The Haunting of Hill House), Samantha Sloyan (Midnight Mass), and Kate Siegel (The Haunting of Hill House, Hush). Anyone who has followed Flanagan's Netflix series knows exactly what this means — these actors understand his rhythm, his dialogue, and his deeply human approach to horror.
Why Flanagan Is the Right Choice
There have been very few directors in the last decade who have earned the level of trust Flanagan has among horror fans. From The Haunting of Hill House to Midnight Mass to The Fall of the House of Usher, he has proven time and again that he can take familiar horror concepts and turn them into something genuinely moving and terrifying. His strength lies in character development, atmosphere, and slow-burn tension rather than cheap jump scares.
For The Exorcist, that approach feels tailor-made. The original film was never just about the pea-soup vomiting and head-spinning — it was about doubt, faith, and the battle for a child's soul. Flanagan's natural inclination toward exploring grief, trauma, and family dynamics through a horror lens positions him perfectly to capture what made the original so enduring.
The announcement that Flanagan is also editing the film himself is a strong signal. Directors who cut their own footage — think Christopher Nolan or the Coen Brothers — tend to have the most singular, uncompromised visions. It means every choice in the final film is his, from the pacing of each scene to the placement of each scare. For a project of this magnitude, that level of authorial control is rare and encouraging.
What This Means for the Franchise
The Exorcist franchise has a notoriously messy history. Exorcist II: The Heretic is frequently cited as one of the worst sequels ever made. The Exorcist III has its passionate defenders — and it does have real merits — but it never crossed over to the mainstream. Two competing prequels arrived in quick succession in 2004 and 2005, both quickly forgotten. And David Gordon Green's The Exorcist: Believer in 2023, while profitable, failed to impress critics or audiences enough to sustain its planned trilogy.
Flanagan's film effectively hits the reset button. By starting fresh rather than tying into any previous continuity, he frees himself from decades of uneven franchise baggage. Blumhouse, which produced Believer, remains involved, suggesting a level of studio confidence that Flanagan can do what Green couldn't. Morgan Creek, which has held the rights through all of these phases, seems fully committed to letting Flanagan execute his vision.
The cast also tells a story about where this film is headed. Johansson is a genuine box office draw, the kind of star who can pull a general audience into a horror theater. Lane and Fishburne bring dramatic weight. Ejiofor and Leguizamo are character actors who elevate every project they touch. And the Flanagan repertory players ensure that the emotional core of the film is in trusted hands. This is not a cash-grab franchise entry — it's a serious film with serious talent.
A March 2027 Theatrical Release
The film is currently scheduled for a theatrical release on March 12, 2027, distributed by Universal Pictures. That date puts it in a prime early-spring horror slot, traditionally a strong season for the genre. Given the talent involved and Flanagan's track record, expectations are going to be sky-high.
Whether this new Exorcist will stand alongside the original remains to be seen. But if anyone can pull off the impossible task of revitalizing one of horror's most sacred properties, it's Mike Flanagan. Consider March 2027 marked on your calendar.
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