After David Gordon Green's reboot The Exorcist: Believer failed to breathe new life into the iconic yet decidedly stale The Exorcist franchise, Universal Pictures along with Blumhouse-Atomic Monster and Morgan Creek Productions turned to one of the modern masters of horror to reboot it yet again: Mike Flanagan. While the involvement of Flanagan in any capacity is exciting enough, there were still question marks about another reboot's viability.
Flanagan and co. have promised a radical new direction for the franchise, which is a welcome change after The Exorcist: Believer clung to the remnants of the original, ultimately relying far too much on nostalgia and exploring virtually zero new ground. Flanagan has made it clear that he sought out the opportunity to tackle The Exorcist given his confidence that he has something new to add to the central concept.
We now know that Flanagan will have a powerful asset at his disposal to make his vision come true. Per Deadline, two-time Academy Award nominee Scarlett Johansson has reportedly signed on to star in Flanagan's new nightmare. It will mark Scarlett Johansson's first foray into true horror (I'm choosing not to count the campy horror-comedy Eight-Legged Freaks here), and it's exactly the kind of big swing the franchise needed.
Scarlett Johansson's Star Power Is A Major Asset For The Exorcist Franchise
There is no doubt in my mind that whatever Mike Flanagan has cooked up for The Exorcist franchise will be well-crafted. Between his elite horror television resume and his list of hits at the box office, he has more than earned the benefit of the doubt, especially on something he's clearly passionate about. However, a great story is only part of the battle with a franchise like The Exorcist
Scarlett Johansson is one of the few stars in Hollywood with legitimate box office pull, which will be essential in reviving The Exorcist franchise in the minds of the movie-going public beyond the horror buffs who are excited about Flanagan's involvement. Casting her represents a major commitment from the production companies behind the franchise, and speaks to their belief in what Flanagan's working on.
She's also an Oscar-nominated dramatic actress, which can go a long way towards making a horror movie truly pop. 2025 proved how much more powerful horror movies can be with A-listers on the call sheet, as Ralph Fiennes did for 28 Years Later, Michael B. Jordan did for Sinners, and Josh Brolin and Julia Garner did for Weapons. Adding a star of Johansson's caliber will add real dramatic weight to Flanagan's story, making for a better overall movie.
The Exorcist franchise now has perhaps the two most important elements in place for a successful reboot. It remains to be seen if Flanagan and Johansson's involvement is a one-and-done scenario, but the original plan for David Gordon Green's reboot was a trilogy. I wouldn't be shocked if something similar is in the works for Flanagan's iteration, although as always the box office return will probably make the decision there.
