One of horror’s most legendary franchises is getting a bold new life, and it now has a major star attached.
Scarlett Johansson has officially signed on to lead the next The Exorcist film, with acclaimed filmmaker Mike Flanagan directing for Blumhouse Productions. The casting news confirms that this new installment will not follow the events of 2023’s The Exorcist: Believer, but instead will reboot the franchise with an entirely fresh story.
This marks a huge shift in direction for the brand. Rather than continuing the recent storyline, Blumhouse and Flanagan are choosing a clean creative slate, a new beginning aimed at restoring the psychological intensity, spiritual dread, and emotional weight that made the original 1973 film a cultural earthquake.
Flanagan is no stranger to terror rooted in grief, faith, and fear. His body of work is known for blending slow-burn tension with deeply human character studies. That approach signals a return to serious horror storytelling rather than spectacle-driven franchise filmmaking.
Johansson’s involvement instantly elevates the project into prestige territory. Best known for her dramatic and action roles, her transition into a franchise of this magnitude suggests the studio is aiming for something more than a standard remake. The film is expected to focus on emotional realism and spiritual horror rather than recycled iconography.
For horror fans, this announcement is about more than casting, it represents an opportunity.
An opportunity to see The Exorcist handled with care.
An opportunity for the franchise to feel dangerous again.
An opportunity for horror to reclaim its place as serious cinema.
No release date has been announced yet, and plot details remain tightly guarded. But one thing is clear: the demon is being summoned again, and this time, under a director known for restraint, intelligence, and emotional depth.
The possession may be familiar.
The fear will not be.
