Flanagan Shapes Exorcist Martyrs Around Darker Horror Vision

Mike Flanagan is developing The Exorcist: Martyrs as a horror film that combines a serial killer investigation with demonic possession, with Scarlett Johansson starring as NYPD homicide detective Julie Miller in the 2027 release. Flanagan said the project pushed him into darker creative territory.

The filmmaker told Entertainment Weekly that the story made him uncomfortable during writing and production, as he wanted the film to create a sense of danger and uncertainty rather than follow familiar horror patterns.

"It made me wildly uncomfortable, which I think it should. It's like that discomfort means you're doing it right." Flanagan said.

Flanagan explained that he pursued the project after Universal Pictures and Blumhouse reconsidered the franchise following The Exorcist: Believer. He said his concept was to combine elements of crime thrillers with supernatural horror.

"My idea was very much let's do something completely out of the box. Let's do something that's kind of a synthesis of two other subgenres." Flanagan said.

The film follows Julie Miller as she investigates murders linked to Father Sunday, a serial killer played by John Leguizamo, whose crimes are connected to religious imagery. The story also features Chiwetel Ejiofor, Laurence Fishburne, Sasha Calle, and Jacobi Jupe.

"What scares me the most about The Exorcist is that it seems to be a story in which Satan is very real and very active in the world, and God is absent." Flanagan said.

Flanagan cited The Exorcist III and William Peter Blatty's novel Legion as major influences, along with crime films including Seven and Zodiac. He said the connection between serial killer narratives and possession stories was central to the movie.

"There's a beautiful harmony between a serial killer story and a demonic possession story. We didn't make that up. That's there." Flanagan said.

Samantha Sloyan, an actor who collaborated with Flanagan on previous projects, described the director's approach after seeing the production's visual style and emotional intensity.

"He brings you in and then he scares the crap out of you," Sloyan said.

Universal Pictures and Blumhouse-Atomic Monster introduced the first teaser trailer for The Exorcist: Martyrs at New York Comic Con, where Flanagan discussed the film alongside cast members and producers.