A new nightmare awaits in The Exorcist universe, and the victim roster is slowly filling out. Following the addition of Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave), Mike Flanagan‘s fresh take on the horror franchise has cast Laurence Fishburne, best known for portraying Morpheus in The Matrix, bringing the number of Oscar nominees to four: lead star Scarlett Johansson, Diane Lane, Ejiofor, and Fishburne himself.
As Variety reports, the actor’s role was not disclosed, and much of the project remains under wraps. However, it was previously reported that the upcoming instalment will be a “radical new take” on the original feature set in the same universe, instead of a sequel to 2023’s The Exorcist: Believer. Filming set in New York City, with its theatrical release slated for 12 March 2027.
Blumhouse-Atomic Monster and Morgan Creek Entertainment are producing the new Exorcist film alongside Flanagan, who will direct and write via his Red Room Pictures. It also stars Jacobi Jupe, currently enjoying his turn as Shakespeare’s son in Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet.
The original Exorcist, based on the novel by William Peter Blatty and directed by William Friedkin, followed the demonic possession of a young girl and the attempt to rescue her through an exorcism by two Catholic priests. It starred Ellen Burstyn, Linda Blair, Max von Sydow, and Jason Miller, with the former two reprising their roles in Believer.
Flanagan, of course, is no stranger to the horror genre. While his recent big-screen release, 2024’s Life of Chuck, is a fantasy-drama adapted from Stephen King’s novella of the same name, the filmmaker rose to prominence as a horror auteur with The Haunting of Hill House, The Haunting of Bly Manor, Midnight Mass, and The Fall of the House of Usher. The upcoming Carrie series, which he is developing for Prime Video and has no release date, will continue his collaboration streak with King.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
Joey Leong
