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Scarlett Johansson to headline upcoming Exorcist movie post Jurassic World success

Updated On: 25 November, 2025 06:50 PM IST | Los Angeles | mid-day online correspondent

Scarlett Johansson is going to dive into full-blown horror by starring in the new Exorcist movie. Written and directed by Mike Flanagan, it is touted to be his scariest movie yet

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Scarlett Johansson

Scarlett Johansson

BAFTA Award-winning actor Scarlett Johansson is officially taking the lead in The Exorcist franchise, marking her first major dive into full-blown horror. According to a report in Deadline, the two-time Oscar nominee was locked in to star in the next installment of the iconic series, written and directed by Mike Flanagan.

About the Exorcist reboot 

The untitled feature will be the seventh film in the long-running franchise, which began with The Exorcist (1973), starring Ellen Burstyn. It followed a mother (Ellen Burstyn) who hires two Catholic priests to perform an exorcism on her demonically possessed 12-year-old (Linda Blair). The film was a critical and commercial hit, grossing $441 million worldwide and earning 10 Oscar nominations.
 
The upcoming Exorcist will be set in the same universe as the 1973 film but will not be a sequel to 2023's The Exorcist: Believer. The filming is set to take place in New York. However, no plot details or additional cast members have been confirmed besides that.
 
As per reports, Universal and Blumhouse want to steer the series in a very different direction after Believer failed to launch the franchise they had envisioned. While the previous film earned around $136 million globally on a $30 million spend, it still fell far short of expectations — especially given that the  studios had shelled out an astounding $400 million investment to secure rights for three films. The financial performance, coupled with poor reviews, led director David Gordon Green to exit the franchise, and left the trilogy plans shelved.
 
Mike Flanagan is now set to direct the project. Mike has built a reputation as one of horror’s most distinctive voices with projects like The Haunting of Hill House and Gerald’s Game. Though his theatrical outings have seen varied commercial outcomes, he has described this new Exorcist project as “the scariest movie I’ve ever made.”

About Scarlett's casting 

“Scarlett is a brilliant actress whose captivating performances always feel grounded and real, from genre films to summer blockbusters, and I couldn’t be happier to have her join this Exorcist film,” Mike was quoted as saying.

Scarlett’s casting signals serious franchise ambition. She recently helped a Universal franchise - Jurassic World: Rebirth - dominate the global box office with nearly $869 million worldwide, proving her franchise muscle remains unmatched. 

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