Scarlett Johansson Set to Haunt Screens in New ‘Exorcist’ Film
Scarlett Johansson is set to star in a new take on the Exorcist franchise, Deadline reports. The upcoming film will be written and directed by Mike Flanagan and produced by Blumhouse-Atomic Monster, along with Morgan Creek Entertainment and Flanagan’s Red Room Pictures.
Johansson’s casting shows the studio is serious about giving the iconic horror series a fresh start.
Flanagan shared his excitement about working with Johansson, saying, “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.”
This installment will tell an all-new story within the Exorcist universe and is not connected to the 2023 movie The Exorcist: Believer, which underperformed at the box office. That film, directed by David Gordon Green, earned $65.5 million in the U.S. and Canada and $136.2 million worldwide. After its reception, Green stepped away from the series, and the studio decided to reboot the franchise with Flanagan at the helm.
The production team includes Alexandra Magistro as executive producer for Red Room Pictures, David Robinson producing for Morgan Creek, and Jason Blum and Ryan Turek serving as producer and executive producer for Blumhouse-Atomic Monster.
The Exorcist franchise began with William Peter Blatty’s 1971 novel and became famous with the 1973 film adaptation.
Since then, the series has seen multiple prequels and sequels, though none have matched the original in critical acclaim. The story revolves around people possessed by Pazuzu, the main antagonist, and the religious efforts to stop the possession. Overall, the films have grossed over $661 million worldwide, and the novel has sold more than 13 million copies.
Flanagan’s new film aims to bring a fresh vision to the franchise, hoping to capture the horror and intensity that made the original so memorable.
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