The Exorcist: Martyrs is an upcoming American supernatural horror film written and directed by Mike Flanagan, the seventh film in the franchise that began with William Friedkin’s The Exorcist (1973). Scarlett Johansson stars as a New York homicide detective whose 12-year-old son becomes the target of a demonic force. The cast also includes Chiwetel Ejiofor, Diane Lane, Laurence Fishburne and John Leguizamo. Jason Blum produces through Blumhouse–Atomic Monster, David Robinson through Morgan Creek and Flanagan through Red Room Pictures. Universal Pictures will release it in the United States on March 12, 2027. No The Exorcist Martyrs review exists yet. This page tracks what is confirmed.
At a glance
| Director | Mike Flanagan |
| Writer | Mike Flanagan |
| Studio | Blumhouse–Atomic Monster, Morgan Creek Entertainment and Red Room Pictures; distributed by Universal Pictures |
| Release date | March 12, 2027 (United States) |
| Premise | Thirteen years after catching a satanic serial killer, a detective investigates new murders as her son is targeted by a demon |
| Cast | Scarlett Johansson, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Diane Lane, Jacobi Jupe, Sasha Calle, Laurence Fishburne, John Leguizamo, Scoot McNairy, Gil Bellows |
| Status | Filmed March to June 2026 in New York City; first trailer released October 2026 |
Premise and what we know
The official logline describes a single-mother cop who, 13 years after taking down a notorious satanic serial killer, investigates a new series of murders connected to her past while her 12-year-old son becomes the target of a terrifying demonic force. Johansson plays Detective Julie Miller of the NYPD, Jacobi Jupe plays her son Max, and Sasha Calle plays her partner, Detective Gina Restrepo. Leguizamo plays the killer from her past, known as “Father Sunday.” Ejiofor plays Father William, a former con man turned prison chaplain in a crisis of faith, and Fishburne plays Father Nichol, a priest familiar with ancient rituals.
Fans searching for a Pazuzu demon wiki entry will want to know whether the demon from the 1973 film returns. That has not been confirmed. Universal has not named the entity that targets Max. For the original possession, see Regan MacNeil / Pazuzu.
Production and development
Martyrs replaces a different plan. After The Exorcist: Believer (2023), Universal intended David Gordon Green to direct a sequel called The Exorcist: Deceiver. Believer’s poor reception led Green to step away in January 2024. In May 2024, Flanagan was confirmed to write, produce and direct a “new radical take.” Deceiver and its follow-up were cancelled. Flanagan said he chased the job “very aggressively” because he believed he had something new to add. The commitment meant he could not direct Clayface, which he had written for DC Studios.
Flanagan finished his Prime Video series of Stephen King‘s Carrie first. Casting ran from November 2025 to March 2026, beginning with Johansson. Principal photography took place in New York City from March to June 2026, with longtime Flanagan cinematographer Michael Fimognari. Flanagan also edits the film. The title was revealed in June 2026. The release moved twice, from April 2025 and then March 2026, before landing on March 12, 2027.
Cast
- Scarlett Johansson as Detective Julie Miller
- Jacobi Jupe as Max Miller
- Chiwetel Ejiofor as Father William
- Diane Lane as Mary Miller, Julie’s mother
- Sasha Calle as Detective Gina Restrepo
- Laurence Fishburne as Father Nichol
- John Leguizamo as Rivera, known as “Father Sunday”
- Scoot McNairy as Clay Silver, a paroled convict
- Gil Bellows as Peter Nicks, a former acolyte of Father Sunday
- Also cast: Carla Gugino, Kate Siegel, Rahul Kohli, Hamish Linklater, Samantha Sloyan, Robert Longstreet, Carl Lumbly, John Gallagher Jr. and Benjamin Pajak
What to expect
The main Mike Flanagan Exorcist reboot changes are already clear. This is not a sequel to Believer and does not continue Green’s planned trilogy. It is set in the same world as the 1973 film, but it is built around new characters and a police investigation. The murder-mystery angle recalls William Peter Blatty’s The Exorcist III (1990), which Flanagan has openly admired. At New York Comic Con in October 2026 he singled out its hallway scene and called Martyrs “unlike any other Exorcist movie.” Expect his usual company of actors too. Gugino, Siegel, Kohli, Linklater and Sloyan all worked with him on The Haunting of Hill House, Midnight Mass and other projects.
Release and status
The first trailer debuted at Blumhouse’s BlumFest event during New York Comic Con in October 2026, The Hollywood Reporter reported. Universal has dated the film for March 12, 2027. Rating and runtime had not been confirmed as of October 10, 2026.
Related links
- The Exorcist (1973)
- The Exorcist III (1990)
- The Exorcist: Believer (2023)
- Regan MacNeil / Pazuzu
- Mike Flanagan
- William Friedkin and William Peter Blatty