Mike Flanagan Reboots The Exorcist With Martyrs

A new investigation into ritualistic murders forms the foundation of The Exorcist: Martyrs, the latest installment in the supernatural horror franchise directed and written by Mike Flanagan. Starring Scarlett Johansson as an NYPD homicide detective, the film combines a serial-killer investigation with demonic possession and is scheduled to open in theaters on March 12, 2027, according to published reports.

The first trailer, released in October 2026, introduces Detective Julie Miller, a single mother whose investigation into a convicted killer leads to increasingly disturbing events. The production features John Leguizamo, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Laurence Fishburne, Sasha Calle, Diane Lane, Jacobi Jupe, Samantha Sloyan, and Carla Gugino.

Flanagan's approach draws inspiration from The Exorcist III, the 1990 film directed by William Peter Blatty. In an interview with IGN, the filmmaker explained that the new story combines elements of crime procedurals with the supernatural horror that defines the franchise.

"The Exorcist III is an awesome movie. It's so underappreciated. Outside of the original, it's my favorite of the franchise.

I think it's just a marvelous film. It's terrifying, it's sophisticated, it's beautifully acted," Flanagan said.

The director identified the earlier film's combination of investigative suspense and demonic possession as a foundation for his own project. However, he emphasized that audiences will not need to know the previous installments to follow the new story.

"It really is its own thing," Flanagan told IGN, describing the film as a self-contained narrative accessible to viewers unfamiliar with the franchise's history.

According to Flanagan, longtime fans will find additional connections to The Exorcist III and the original 1973 film. Those references provide continuity without making prior knowledge essential to understanding the new plot.

Johansson plays Miller, a detective balancing homicide investigations with raising her 12-year-old son, Max, portrayed by Jacobi Jupe. Flanagan described the character's demanding career and family responsibilities in an interview with Esquire, noting that her work can keep her away from home for days while she pursues cases.

The central investigation begins with Rivera, a serial killer played by Leguizamo who stages crime scenes using disturbing religious imagery. Known by the criminal pseudonym Father Sunday in the Esquire report, the killer is apprehended early in the story, and Miller witnesses his execution.

Flanagan explained to IGN that the case returns to haunt Miller more than a decade later, after she has become an established homicide detective and single mother. The recurrence of details associated with the original murders suggests something beyond an ordinary copycat crime.

The film's religious imagery includes crime scenes inspired by the martyrdom of Catholic saints. According to Esquire, the trailer also depicts hooded executioners, with Flanagan explaining that the masks reflect a practice in which execution participants conceal their identities.

As the investigation develops, Miller and fellow detective Gina Restrepo, played by Sasha Calle, confront murders that appear connected to the earlier case. The story also places Miller's son in danger as the supernatural threat grows.

Flanagan has described the project as an exploration of evil through horror storytelling. Speaking to Esquire, he connected the genre's supernatural themes with real-world acts that challenge people's understanding of human behavior.

"What do we do about the problem of evil?" Flanagan asked.

The filmmaker has previously directed The Haunting of Hill House and Midnight Mass, among other horror productions. Actress Samantha Sloyan, who has worked with Flanagan on several projects, praised the new film after seeing portions of its production, according to a report published by Yahoo Entertainment.

"And, for me personally, I think from what little I saw, it's the scariest thing that I've seen him do. So, I'm very excited. I'm excited as everybody else is to see it," Sloyan said.

The new installment follows several earlier attempts to extend the franchise, including Exorcist II: The Heretic in 1977 and The Exorcist: Believer in 2023. Flanagan's film is positioned as a fresh entry that draws on the series' established mythology while centering its narrative on a police investigation.

The Exorcist: Martyrs is scheduled for theatrical release on March 12, 2027, with Johansson leading an ensemble cast that includes Leguizamo, Ejiofor, Fishburne, Calle, Lane, and Jupe.