Production has officially started on Mike Flanagan’s new “The Exorcist” movie, bringing the famous horror franchise back to life with a completely new story. The film recently began filming in New York City, marking the first day of production for the highly anticipated project.
Director Mike Flanagan confirmed the start of filming through a post on Instagram. Sharing a behind-the-scenes photo of the production slate, he wrote “Day 1… here we go.” The post quickly caught the attention of horror fans who are excited to see what the filmmaker will do with the iconic franchise.
The new movie will not be a remake of the classic 1973 film “The Exorcist,” and it is also not a sequel to the 2023 movie “The Exorcist: Believer.” Instead, the film will tell a completely original story set inside The Exorcist universe, offering a fresh direction for the long-running horror series.
The movie has a star-studded cast led by Scarlett Johansson, who is reportedly playing a mother in the story. Young actor Jacobi Jupe is expected to play her son, although full story details are still being kept secret by the filmmakers.
Several well-known actors have joined the project. The cast includes Diane Lane, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Sasha Calle, and John Leguizamo. The film also features many actors who have worked with Flanagan before, such as Rahul Kohli, Hamish Linklater, Samantha Sloyan, Kate Siegel, Carla Gugino, and John Gallagher Jr.
Behind the camera, Flanagan is once again working with Michael Fimognari, who serves as the movie’s director of photography. Fimognari previously collaborated with Flanagan on projects like “The Haunting of Hill House” and “Doctor Sleep.”
According to Bloody Disgusting, Flanagan is producing the film through his company Red Room Pictures. The project is also being produced by Jason Blum for Blumhouse, along with Atomic Monster and Morgan Creek Entertainment.
Flanagan has spoken openly about how seriously he takes the project. In a statement shared by Bloody Disgusting, the director said he wants to create something that respects the original film while also bringing something new to the franchise. He explained that his goal is to make “the scariest movie I’ve ever made.“
The filmmaker also admitted that the expectations around The Exorcist franchise are very high. Still, he believes the project offers a chance to explore a fresh story without relying too heavily on nostalgia.
Fans will have to wait a little while to see the result. The new “The Exorcist” movie is currently scheduled to arrive in theaters on March 12, 2027, with Universal Pictures handling the release.
Before that, Flanagan has several other projects on the way, including a series adaptation of Stephen King’s “Carrie” for Prime Video. But for now, the focus has shifted to New York City, where cameras have started rolling on what could become the next major chapter in The Exorcist franchise.