Scarlett Johansson to Star in Next ‘Exorcist’ Movie

Flanagan is working on an all-new story set in the world of the ‘Exorcist,’ one that won’t continue the plot of David Gordon Green’s ‘Exorcist: Believer.’

(Left) Scarlett Johansson arrives on the red carpet of the 97th Oscars® at the Dolby® Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, March 2, 2025. Credit/Provider: Heather Swift / The Academy. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S. (Right)

Preview:

Scarlett Johansson will star in the next ‘Exorcist’ movie.
Mike Flanagan is writing and directing the film.
It’ll be an all-new approach.

Start making the pea soup! There is movement on the new ‘Exorcist’ movie as Deadline brings news that Scarlett Johansson has made a deal to star.

The new effort comes courtesy of Universal alongside horror veteran companies Blumhouse and Atomic Monster, who hired 'The Fall of the House of Usher's Mike Flanagan to direct with plans to take the franchise in yet another new direction.

The Exorcist: Believer

"Body and the blood."

RHorror Thriller

Review
Score

Release Date: Oct 6, 2023

Run Time: 1 hr 51 min

Budget: $30,000,000

Starring: Leslie Odom Jr., Lidya Jewett, Olivia O'Neill

Watch The Exorcist: Believer Online

Here’s what Flanagan had to say about the new 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.”

What’s the story of the new ‘Exorcist’ movie?

(L to R) Executive Producer/Director Mike Flanagan, Executive Producer/Director Michael Fimognari in 'The Fall of the House of Usher.' Photo: Eike Schroter/Netflix © 2023.

This is where things get interesting.

Flanagan, when he was first announced as making the new ‘Exorcist’ effort, seemed likely to be tackling ‘The Exorcist: Deceiver,’ the follow-up to David Gordon Green’s ‘The Exorcist: Believer,’ which arrived in 2023.

Yet after ‘Believer’ underperformed at the box office and was bedeviled by critics, Green backed away to focus on other projects.

Now, whatever Flanagan has cooking plot-wise would appear to be a completely new take on the story of possession and terror.

And how Johansson might fit into that? We’ll have to wait and see.

Where else can we see Scarlett Johansson?

Scarlett Johansson as skilled covert operations expert Zora Bennett in 'Jurassic World Rebirth', directed by Gareth Edwards. Photo: Universal Pictures.

Johansson has had a successful summer –– she anchored ‘Jurassic World Rebirth,’ which despite its own critical issues, still earned nearly $869 million worldwide.

She also made her movie directorial debut with this year’s ‘Eleanor the Great,’ which starred June Squibb.

Next up, Johansson will be seen in James Gray’s ‘Paper Tiger’ opposite Miles Teller and Adam Driver. She also has a variety of other projects in development or making their way towards production, including her potential role as Mother Gothel in the live-action ‘Tangled’ for Disney.

When will the new ‘Exorcist’ movie be on screens?

There are no details yet on when this one might be in theaters, but Deadline reports that with scheduling worked out, it’s likely to be the next movie Johansson makes, so if it shoots next year, 2027 is not out of the realms of possibility.