When it comes to modernhorror, no filmmaker has had more impact on the genre thanMike Flanagan. The writer-director has been terrifying audiences for over a decade with films likeOculus,HushandDoctor Sleepalongside sinister TV shows likeMidnight MassandThe Haunting of Hill House. His latest filmLife of Chuckisn’t a horror film, but the director will be jumping back on the scream-worthy genre train soon with the next entry inThe Exorcistfranchise. A project thatFlanagan has now called his scariest film to date.
In an interview withThe Hollywood Reporterfocused onLife of Chuckas well as the director’s own attachment to horror, Flanagan was briefly asked about theupcomingExorcistfilmand the “bold promise” of it being a “radical new take”. “We aren’t making this easy on ourselves”, Flanagan said with a laugh before continuing:
“But I’ve always felt that there’s no point in going into a franchise or into a property that monolithic unless there’s something new you can bring. I chased The Exorcist very aggressively because I was convinced I had something that I could add. This is an opportunity to do something that I believe has never been done within the franchise — something that honors what came before it but isn’t built on nostalgia.”
TheStephen Kingregular would finish by saying,“I really just saw an opportunity to make the scariest movie I’ve ever made. I know expectations are high. No one’s more intimidated than I am.”That’s saying a lot given Flanagan’s previous work has been full of traumatizing moments. Even for horror veterans, things like “The Bent-Neck Lady” inHill Houseand the ending ofMidnight MassEpisode 5 have stuck with audiences like their own personal haunting. That also means something a bit different when it comes toThe Exorcistfranchise, asthe original is still considered to be one of the scariest films of all-time.
What’s the New ‘Exorcist’ About?
There are no major plot details for Flanagan’sExorcistyet as it’s still in the very early stages of development. However, we do know that it won’t be a direct sequel to 2023’sExorcist: Believer. Because of that, it’ll be exciting to see who’ll be cast in thenext chapter. Flanagan has formed a huge horror family over the years which has includedKate Siegel,Karen Gillan,Carl Lumbly,Rahul Kohli, andMark Hamill, just to name a few. The big ensemble casts are half the fun of a Flanagan production. As the director is focused on promoting his next King adaptationLife of Chuck, which premieres at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) later this month, horror fans will probably have to wait awhile for casting news to start. That’s not the only project for Flanagan this year, as he wrote a segment for the nextV/H/Sfilm,Beyond, titled “Stowaway”. His wife and frequent collaborator, Siegel, is making herdirectorial debutwith this segment. The found footage sequel will be premiering exclusively on the horror-centric service Shudder on August 11, 2025.
Flanagan’sExorcistinstallment will be haunting theaters onMarch 13, 2026(Friday the 13th). You can currently catch up with the franchise by streaming the originalExorcistonMaxandBelieveron Amazon Prime Video.
The Exorcist
When a young girl is possessed by a mysterious entity, her mother seeks the help of two Catholic priests to save her life.
