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Scarlett Johansson, the Academy Award-nominated star, has officially joined Mike Flanagan’s upcoming reinvention of the iconic horror franchise with The Exorcist: Martyrs, a project that is shaping up to be one of Blumhouse’s most closely watched gambles. Production is set to begin on February 23, marking the first major step in the studio’s plan to mix in some different movies around her Jurassic franchise movies and her upcoming The Batman II movie.
Scarlett Johansson Takes On “Inconceivable Darkness” In Flanagan’s Reboot
Johansson will play a small-town rookie detective who stumbles into a disturbing case described internally as involving “inconceivable darkness.” That eerie phrase has been circulating through production listings and early internal summaries, signaling Flanagan’s intention to build an entirely new mythology. This reboot does not appear to connect to previous instalments, which is exactly how Flanagan wants it. After the rocky reception of The Exorcist: Believer, the filmmaker reportedly pushed for a clean slate and was granted total creative freedom to reshape the brand.
Flanagan signed a deal last year to direct two new Exorcist films, initially anchored to a March 2026 release. That date has since been quietly removed from Universal’s schedule, which gives the director room to refine his vision without pressure. Blumhouse and Universal need this new entry to land. The studios invested roughly $400 million in securing the rights to the franchise, only to see Believer stumble with both critics and audiences. With a 22 percent Rotten Tomatoes score and a C CinemaScore, the previous film grossed a modest $136 million and triggered reports of a serious creative overhaul.
Johansson’s casting signals a major swing. The actress has long shown an affinity for character-driven genre work, and handing her a grounded detective role in a psychological horror setting is a fresh and exciting fit. The current title, The Exorcist: Martyrs, hints at something more intimate and more brutal than the franchise has tackled in years. Flanagan’s track record with Doctor Sleep, The Haunting of Hill House, and Midnight Mass makes him a rare storyteller who can deliver jump scares and emotional devastation with equal force.
The franchise has now grown to seven films. While the 1973 original remains the gold standard and The Exorcist III continues to enjoy cult devotion, most sequels have failed to recapture the terrifying spark. Now it is Flanagan’s turn to resurrect a legendary name. With Scarlett Johansson stepping into the darkness, this reboot suddenly feels alive with possibility.
Mike Flanagan’s The Exorcist: Martyrs starring Scarlett Johansson starts shooting on Feb 23, 2026.
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