Scarlett Johansson has been cast in a new Exorcist film. The 41-year-old actress will star in a “fresh” and “bold” take on the iconic horror franchise following the disappointing 2023 release of The Exorcist: Believer, with Mike Flanagan taking over at the helm.
In a statement, Flanagan said, “Scarlett is a brilliant actress whose captivating performances always feel grounded and real, from genre films to summer blockbusters, and I couldn’t be happier to have her join this Exorcist film.”
Currently, plot details are under wraps, and it’s not known who Johansson will play or who will join her in the cast. The writer and director, known for his work on The Haunting of Hill House, The Life of Chuck, and Doctor Sleep, is poised to deliver a “radical new take” on the IP for Universal and Blumhouse.
The movie will be set in the same universe as the original 1973 film, which was based on William Peter Blatty’s novel. The classic horror flick – which was nominated for 10 Oscars – focused on the possession of a young girl, and the priests who were desperately trying to save her.
There have been several sequels over the years, which have typically featured either the girl grown up, the priests’ own backstories, or other cases investigated by the detectives. However, the upcoming movie is said not to be a sequel or a remake.
Flanagan said in a statement when he announced the project: “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.
“Reuniting with my friends at Blumhouse, with whom I’ve made some of my favorite pieces of work, only makes this more exciting.” Before Flanagan signed on to helm The Exorcist franchise in May 2024, David Gordon Green was set to direct a new trilogy in the horror series. However, he was let go after his 2023 flick The Exorcist: Believer was panned by critics and grossed only $136.3 million at the box office.
The new film was set for a 2026 release, but over the summer, Flanagan admitted there was “no way” it would meet that date due to work on his upcoming Carrie TV show. He wrote on Tumblr: “Production hasn’t started, we need to finish Carrie first. No way it’s coming out next March. Nothing to worry about though.”
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