Johansson Joins Flanagan’s Dark New Vision for ‘The Exorcist’

Scarlett Johansson is stepping into one of horror’s holiest battlegrounds. The Academy Award nominee has signed on to lead Mike Flanagan’s radical new reimagining of The Exorcist for Universal Pictures—a project the filmmaker promises will be his scariest work yet.

“Scarlett is a brilliant actress whose performances always feel grounded and real,” Flanagan said. “I couldn’t be happier to have her join this Exorcist film.”

Flanagan—creator of The Haunting of Hill House, Midnight Mass, and director of Doctor Sleep—is writing and directing the movie, crafting an entirely new story set within The Exorcist universe. This isn’t a sequel to 2023’s The Exorcist: Believer, but a fresh possession tale meant to stand on its own.

The project is being produced through Flanagan’s Red Room Pictures alongside Blumhouse-Atomic Monster and Morgan Creek Entertainment. Alexandra Magistro (Red Room), David Robinson (Morgan Creek), Jason Blum, and Ryan Turek are all on board as producers and executive producers.

Flanagan previously teased his ambitions: “This is an opportunity to do something that’s never been done in the franchise—something that honors what came before without leaning on nostalgia. I just saw a chance to make the scariest movie I’ve ever made. Expectations are high… no one’s more intimidated than I am.”

Originally set for a March 13, 2026 release, the film was delayed while Flanagan completed his Carrie series for Prime Video. With that wrapped, production is gearing up to begin in New York City.

As the demon dust starts to swirl, stay tuned—possession season is just getting started.