Mike Flanagan to Direct ‘Radical New Take’ on The Exorcist for Blumhouse

Less than a month after it was reported that Mike Flanagan was in talks to helm the next film in The Exorcist franchise for Blumhouse and Morgan Creek, the Doctor Sleep director has officially signed on for the project in what is being billed as a “radical new take” on the series. The Exorcist: Believer debuted in 2023 to a dismal reception, causing Blumhouse to rethink its strategy of releasing two more sequels in a planned trilogy. The film’s director, David Gordon Green, exited the project in January 2024, sending everything back to the drawing board.

As per Deadline, director Mike Flanagan has officially signed on the dotted line to take over for Green, and will write, direct, and produce what is being called a “radical new take” on The Exorcist. In a statement released by Flanagan, he says he’s honored to have the chance to try something “fresh,” while at the same time reuniting with his old pals at Blumhouse. Check out his comments below.

“The Exorcist
is one of the reasons I became a filmmaker, and it is an honor to have
the chance to try something fresh, bold, and terrifying
within its universe. Reuniting with my friends at Blumhouse, with whom I’ve made some of my favorite pieces of work, only makes this more exciting.”

Flanagan’s past relationship with Blumhouse yielded three well-received horror films, including Oculus (2013), Hush (2016), and Ouija: Origin of Evil (2016). The writer/director is perhaps best known for his Stephen King adaptations, which include Doctor Sleep, as well as his offerings for Netflix, which include the highly acclaimed limited series’ Midnight Mass, The Fall of the House of Usher, and The Haunting of Hill House.

Blumhouse co-founder, Jason Blum, says he’s excited to team up with Flanagan once more for The Exorcist, and can’t wait for audiences to experience his “new take” on the franchise.

“Mike’s voice and vision are indispensable for horror fans and
we are excited to welcome him back to Blumhouse
. I immediately responded to Mike’s new take on the world of
The Exorcist
and can’t wait for audiences to experience it.”

Mike Flanagan’s Exorcist Film Will Not Be a Sequel to The Exorcist: Believer

Debuting in theaters on October 6, 2023, The Exorcist: Believer was set to kick off a new series of films à la the most recent Halloween trilogy, but the movie was panned by audiences and critics alike, who were disappointed in the story of two young girls possessed by demons. Not even the appearance of franchise favorites Ellen Burstyn and Linda Blair could save it from earning only a 22% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

While it was thought that Blumhouse was still looking to continue the trilogy they started despite the exit of director David Gordon Green, such is not the case anymore, and The Exorcist: Deceiver has been officially scrapped. In addition to being billed as a “radical new take” on The Exorcist, Mike Flanagan’s film is also reported to be “an all-new story set in The Exorcist universe and is not a sequel to 2023’s The Exorcist: Believer.”

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Linda Blair Dishes On Her Cameo in The Exorcist: Believer: “They Kept Me Under Umbrellas”

Now that Linda Blair’s participation in The Exorcist: Believer has been revealed, the star talks her return to the franchise.

Whether Flanagan’s version makes mention of the events in the 2023 film remains to be seen, and it’s unknown at this point if Burstyn or Blair will return to reprise their roles of Chris and Regan MacNeil respectively. The next film in The Exorcist franchise was set to hit theaters on April 18, 2025, but that date could change given recent events.