Scarlett Johansson set to direct Mike Flanagan’s ‘radical new take’ on THE EXORCIST
Universal, Blumhouse and director Mike Flanagan have forced horror fans to give The Exorcist franchise one more chance by enlisting one of Hollywood’s most popular stars.
The revival of horror in 2023, The Exorcist: Believerturned out to be a huge disappointment for fans of William Friedkin’s original masterpiece, but it ultimately did quite well at the box office, meaning Universal Pictures and Blumhouse intend to move forward with another installment.
Shortly after the film hit theaters, we learned that director David Gordon Green had decided not to direct the film. The Exorcist: the deceiverand the studio brought in Mike Flanagan to start from scratch with a new story and new characters.
Now the trades (Deadline calls the film a “radical new take”) report that Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow, Jurassic World Revival) signed on to play the lead role.
“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 that she’s joining this Exorcist film,” Flanagan said.
Plot details are still under wraps, but the new film is said to take place “in the universe” of Exorcist, suggesting it won’t be a full reboot.
Flanagan’s most recent project was the Stephen King adaptation Chuck’s lifeand he has already led companies like The Fall of House Usher Doctor Sleep, Gerald’s Game, Ouija: Origin of Evil, The Haunting of Hill House, The Haunting of Bly Manor, Midnight mass, And The Fall of House Usher.
This guy rarely misses, so fingers crossed he can get this franchise back on track.
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“Exactly 50 years ago this fall, the most terrifying horror film in history hit screens, shocking audiences around the world. Today, Friday, October 13, a new chapter begins. From Blumhouse and director David Gordon Green, who shattered the status quo with their resurrection of the Halloween franchise, comes The Exorcist: Believer.
Since the death of his pregnant wife in an earthquake in Haiti 12 years ago, Victor Fielding (Tony winner and Academy Award nominee Leslie Odom, Jr.; One Night in Miami, Hamilton) has raised his daughter, Angela (Lidya Jewett, Good Girls), alone. But when Angela and her friend Katherine (newcomer Olivia Marcum) disappear into the woods, only to return three days later with no memory of what happened to them, it sets off a chain of events that will force Victor to confront the nadir of evil and, in his terror and despair, to seek out the only person alive who has ever witnessed something similar: Chris MacNeil.
The Exorcist: Believer also stars Ann Dowd as Victor and Angela’s neighbor, and Jennifer Nettles and Norbert Leo Butz as the parents of Angela’s friend Katherine.
