Mike Flanagan’s New Take on ‘The Exorcist’ Hits Theaters 2026

by Annika June 18, 2024

– Mike Flanagan is set to release a reimagined The Exorcist movie on March 13, 2026, offering a new narrative that deviates from the original series.
– Flanagan’s version, produced with collaborator Trevor Macy and Jason Blum’s Blumhouse, marks a new direction after a previous attempt at a reboot received awful reviews.

Mike Flanagan’s New Take on ‘The Exorcist’ Hits Theaters 2026

Master of the macabre, Mike Flanagan, is primed to unsettle audiences with his freshly envisioned take on “The Exorcist,” which Universal has slated to terrify theatre-goers starting March 13, 2026. Flanagan is set to redefine the demonic narrative that has haunted the imaginations of movie buffs for decades. His version promises a departure from the familiar frights and to introduce a new guise of the devil.

The trajectory of “The Exorcist” films took an unexpected turn when the anticipatory buzz collided with the disappointing reception of last year’s “The Exorcist: Believer,” directed by David Gordon Green. The lukewarm response prompted a dramatic shift in the creative direction of the esteemed horror franchise. Proving to be a pivotal moment, the stewardship of this legendary series was passed onto Flanagan, a move that reignited curiosity and roused the horror community.

Flanagan is no stranger to crafting chilling cinematic experiences that burrow deep into the psyche and linger long after the credits roll. With a string of critically acclaimed horror projects under his belt—including “The Haunting of Hill House,” “Midnight Mass,” and “Doctor Sleep”—he has garnered a reputation for his ability to weave psychological horror with deep human emotion. Flanagan is now poised to orchestrate an all-new “Exorcist” film narrative that stands independent of its predecessors while aspiring to carve out its unique place in the annals of horror cinema.

In this ambitious endeavor, Flanagan aligns once again with Trevor Macy, his trusted producer across numerous spine-tingling projects. Jason Blum—responsible for bringing to life such horrifying hits as “Five Nights at Freddy’s” and “M3GAN“—is also attached to the project through Blumhouse, marking this as Flanagan’s fourth collaboration with the production house. Their collective portfolio boasts successful titles such as “Oculus,” “Hush,” and “Ouija: Origin of Evil,” all of which suggest that their latest collaboration on “The Exorcist” may be another genre-defining work.

The original “The Exorcist,” born from William Peter Blatty’s bestselling book and released in 1973, was more than just a film; it was a phenomenon that seared itself into the cultural consciousness. Its groundbreaking nature was recognized with a Best Picture nomination—an unprecedented accolade for a horror film at that time. Given Flanagan’s track record of delivering intense, character-driven horror that defies genre expectations, his foray into “The Exorcist” lore could potentially echo the seismic cultural impact of the original.

In the realm of horror, where the balance between novelty and nodding to tradition is precarious, Flanagan steps into a daunting role. With the expectation to invigorate a beloved franchise, his revisioning of “The Exorcist” carries a heavy burden. Yet, Flanagan’s commitment to character and story depth holds the potential to not only pay homage to the original film’s legacy but also to introduce audiences to a dark corner of the universe they have yet to explore. Undoubtedly, fans and newcomers alike await March 13, 2025, with bated breath, eager to witness how this seasoned weaver of nightmares will challenge their imaginations once again with his reinvention of this classic horror titan.