The The Exorcist franchise is preparing for an unexpected turn. Mike Flanagan, the creative force behind horror titles like The Haunting of Hill House, has shared the first images of his new film, The Exorcist: Martyrs, and revealed details of a plot that combines criminal investigation with demonic possession.
Interest in this project is growing because it marks Scarlett Johansson's first foray into the saga's universe, while also confirming that Flanagan intends to move away from the classic domestic possession horror formula that has defined the franchise since 1973.
Scarlett Johansson, a detective facing a killer who seems to keep killing after death
In The Exorcist: Martyrs, Johansson plays Julie Miller, a homicide detective with the NYPD. Julie is a single mother to 12-year-old Max, played by Jacobi Jupe, and has the support of her mother, Mary, played by Diane Lane.
The plot kicks off when Julie manages to apprehend a serial killer known as Father Sunday, played by John Leguizamo. His crimes macabrely replicate the martyrdoms of Roman Catholic saints, recreating scenes of extreme suffering in detail.
Julie attends Father Sunday's execution as a witness, but something goes wrong during the process. After his death, the murders do not stop, forcing the detective and her partner Gina, played by Sasha Calle, to reopen an investigation that soon begins to show connections to forces beyond any rational explanation.
A crime thriller that draws from Seven and The Silence of the Lambs
Mike Flanagan has explained the tone he is aiming for in this new installment, placing it halfway between a serial killer thriller and the classic supernatural horror of the saga.
The director noted that his intention was to explore how to combine subgenres, taking references from films like Seven or The Silence of the Lambs and blending them with the essence of The Exorcist, focusing on people under the influence, or in some cases under the direct control, of evil.
Flanagan also wanted to make it clear that demonic possession will not take a backseat. In his own words, the film will deliver what its title demands, but its ambition goes beyond repeating a conventional possession story, as he seeks for the serial killer mystery to expand the concept, taking it out of the domestic and family sphere to a larger scale.
Chiwetel Ejiofor and Laurence Fishburne join the cast
Scarlett Johansson will not be alone in this investigation. Chiwetel Ejiofor will play Father William, a prison chaplain present during Father Sunday's execution, who undergoes a vocational crisis after what happened.
Laurence Fishburne rounds out the main cast as a priest knowledgeable in ancient rituals, whose character will be forced to get involved when the crimes start to get dangerously close to Julie's family.
A new story within the same universe
Mike Flanagan has insisted that The Exorcist: Martyrs should not be understood as a remake or a reboot of William Friedkin's original film. According to the director, it is an independent story with new characters, set within the same narrative universe of the franchise.
The filmmaker has stressed that his priority is for the audience not to go to the theater expecting a repetition of the 1973 film, but rather an unprecedented story within the saga, with a different direction than the one the franchise has traditionally followed.
Flanagan has not confirmed whether the film will include nods or appearances related to previous installments of The Exorcist, leaving that door open ahead of the premiere.
When does The Exorcist: Martyrs premiere?
The Exorcist: Martyrs will hit theaters on March 17, 2027.
With a detective played by Scarlett Johansson facing a killer whose crimes continue even after his execution, and with Mike Flanagan mixing supernatural horror with a crime thriller, the new installment promises to expand the limits of what the public associates with The Exorcist without touching Friedkin's original film.
The question that remains in the air is what really happened during Father Sunday's execution so that his death was not the end, but the beginning of something much darker.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is directing The Exorcist: Martyrs?
The film is directed by Mike Flanagan, known for his previous work in the horror genre.
Who does Scarlett Johansson play in the film?
Johansson plays Julie Miller, an NYPD homicide detective and single mother of a 12-year-old boy.
Is The Exorcist: Martyrs a remake of The Exorcist?
No. Mike Flanagan has confirmed that it is an independent story with new characters, set within the franchise's universe, but with no intention of remaking William Friedkin's original film.
Who else is in the cast?
In addition to Scarlett Johansson, the cast includes John Leguizamo, Sasha Calle, Diane Lane, Jacobi Jupe, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Laurence Fishburne.
When is the film released?
The Exorcist: Martyrs is scheduled for theatrical release on March 17, 2027.
What is the main plot about?
The story follows a detective investigating a serial killer whose crimes mimic religious martyrdoms, and which seem to continue even after his execution, leading the investigation into supernatural territory.
