Mike Flanagan brings the legendary horror franchise back with a supernatural serial killer mystery starring Scarlett Johansson and John Leguizamo. The film arrives in theaters March 12, 2027.
Universal Pictures unveiled a trailer for The Exorcist: Martyrs on Friday, following an earlier teaser that confirmed the film’s title. The movie is directed by Mike Flanagan, who previously created the acclaimed horror series The Haunting of Hill House and Midnight Mass. Scarlett Johansson plays Julie Miller, a New York Police Department homicide detective and single mother.
Miller became a celebrated detective after capturing a satanic serial killer known as Father Sunday thirteen years earlier. She has thrown herself into her work ever since that major accomplishment in her career. According to Universal’s description of the plot, Miller discovers a connection between a series of killers linked to notorious figures such as H.H. Holmes and the Zodiac Killer.
Flanagan stated that his goal was to ensure the audience understood this film would not be a rehash of The Exorcist. Chiwetel Ejiofor portrays Father William, a former prison chaplain who heard Father Sunday’s final confession before his execution. Diane Lane plays Mary, Miller’s mother, who comes to help raise her son Max.
Scoot McNairy, known for his role in Argo, is cast as Clay Silver, a paroled convict. Gil Bellows, an Emmy winner, plays Peter Nicks, someone who once followed Father Sunday. John Leguizamo plays the satanic serial killer Father Sunday in what Universal describes as one of his most menacing roles.
The Exorcist: Martyrs is part of a new effort to bring back the horror franchise that began with William Friedkin’s 1973 film based on William Peter Blatty’s novel. Universal had acquired rights for a trilogy of Exorcist films in 2021, originally planning them with David Gordon Green as director. Green exited the planned sequel The Exorcist: Deceiver in early 2024, and Universal removed it from its release schedule.
Flanagan’s recent TV series adaptation of Stephen King’s novel Carrie premiered on Prime Video this week with all eight episodes. Production for The Exorcist: Martyrs began in New York in March. Mike Flanagan produced the film alongside Jason Blum and David Robinson.
Flanagan has been busy lately, with his latest projects including a remake of Carrie and a horror movie inspired by the DC character Clayface. He described The Exorcist: Martyrs as the darkest horror movie he has ever written during the film’s promotion. The film is part of a long-running horror franchise that started with the original 1973 movie based on William Peter Blatty’s novel.
Since Linda Blair played the possessed girl Regan MacNeil, the series has expanded with sequels, a prequel, and even a short-lived TV show. David Gordon Green attempted to restart the franchise in 2023 with a film titled The Exorcist: Believer. Now it is Flanagan’s turn to take on the iconic horror story.
The Exorcist: Martyrs introduces a new narrative style by blending the classic Exorcist elements with a serial killer procedural. Viewers familiar with Flanagan’s recent work will recognize a similar investigative tone in this trailer as seen in his other projects. For fans of the original Exorcist trilogy, the new clip gives off a similar dark and brooding atmosphere.
The film stars Scarlett Johansson as an NYPD detective hunting a serial killer named Father Sunday played by John Leguizamo. Chiwetel Ejiofor also stars in the movie alongside Laurence Fishburne and Sasha Calle. The film feels like a return to Flanagan’s signature style, reminiscent of his earlier works like Oculus and The Haunting of Hill House.
Although Flanagan has not yet finished adapting Stephen King’s The Dark Tower for the screen, this film offers a taste of his horror storytelling.
The Exorcist: Martyrs is set to premiere in theaters on Friday, March 12, 2027.
IMAGE: Scarlett Johansson.. Photo: Sgt. Bryson K. Jones / Wikimedia, taken 2008-01-21, Public domain