Who are the confirmed stars of the new Exorcist film?

Scarlett Johansson is attached to star, and reports name Jacobi Jopp — the breakout actor from Hamnet — as playing her son.

Who is directing the new Exorcist movie?

Mike Flanagan is set to write and direct the film, bringing his signature character-driven, atmospheric style to the franchise.

Is this new film a remake or a sequel?

Producers have described the project as a fresh, original interpretation of The Exorcist universe — neither a straightforward remake nor a direct sequel to previous installments.

When and where will filming take place?

Production is scheduled to begin in New York in March. Further plot details are being kept confidential.

Scarlett Johansson Joins New Exorcist Film with Rising Star

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Fresh face joins a classic horror legacy

Scarlett Johansson is heading into darker territory: the latest installment in The Exorcist universe will pair her with rising actor Jacobi Jopp, best known for his award-season breakthrough in Hamnet. According to reports, Jopp will play Johansson's son in a film that promises a bold, original take on the franchise rather than a straight remake or a direct sequel.

New creative voice behind the camera

Mike Flanagan — the filmmaker behind The Haunting of Hill House and Midnight Mass — has stepped in to write and direct after David Gordon Green left the project. Flanagan is also producing alongside Jason Blum and Ryan Turek, signaling a blend of prestige Netflix-style horror sensibilities and Blumhouse's efficiency in producing low-to-medium-budget scares with big cultural reach.

What this means for fans

Flanagan’s involvement suggests a character-driven approach, with an emphasis on atmosphere, slow-burn dread, and psychological complexity rather than jump-scare spectacle. Filming is slated to begin in New York this March, and story details remain tightly under wraps.

Context and comparisons

This new Exorcist entry arrives amid a wider trend of horror reimaginings that aim to honor original mythology while updating tone and themes for contemporary audiences. Unlike The Exorcist: Believer, which struggled to find footing with viewers, this project is being framed as a reinvention — similar in spirit to how Jordan Peele reworked classic genre ideas into Get Out and Nope, or how filmmakers have rebooted franchises with auteur-driven sensibilities.

Trivia: Universal and Blumhouse acquired distribution rights to The Exorcist library in 2021 for about $400 million from Morgan Creek — a clear sign that studios still see major potential in legacy horror IP.

For Johansson, this role diversifies an already wide-ranging career; for Jacobi Jopp, it's a fast track from literary costume drama to one of horror’s most scrutinized franchises.

This pairing — a major star with a breakthrough young actor, guided by a director known for intimate scares — makes the new Exorcist one of the most intriguing horror projects on the slate. Expect a slow-burn approach, careful performances, and a fresh, possibly unsettling reinterpretation of a storied property.