‘The Haunting Of Hill House’ director Mike Flanagan to helm “radical new take” on ‘The Exorcist’

30 May, 2024

A composite image of director Mike Flanagan, and actor Linda Blair in 'The Exorcist

Mike Flanagan is set to direct, write, and produce the next movie in The Exorcist franchise.

The Doctor Sleep director, who is best known for his Netflix original dramas such as The Haunting of Hill House and The Haunting of Bly Manor, will helm what is being described as a “radical new take” on The Exorcist for Blumhouse and Morgan Creek.

“The Exorcist is one of the reasons I became a filmmaker, and it is an honour to have the chance to try something fresh, bold, and terrifying within its universe,” Flanagan stated (via Variety). “Reuniting with my friends at Blumhouse, with whom I’ve made some of my favorite pieces of work, only makes this more exciting.”

Notably, Flanagan’s upcoming film will be an all-new story and not a sequel to 2023’s The Exorcist: Believer, which was directed by David Gordon Green. Green had planned to make a trilogy of his own, with the sequel The Exorcist: Deceiver originally scheduled for a 2025 release, but he left the franchise after Believer underperformed with critics.

The new Exorcist movie marks the fourth collaboration for Flanagan and Blumhouse; he previously wrote and directed 2013’s Oculus, 2016’s Hush and 2016’s Ouija: Origin of Evil.

“Mike’s voice and vision are indispensable for horror fans and we are excited to welcome him back to Blumhouse,” said Blumhouse founder and CEO Jason Blum. “I immediately responded to Mike’s new take on the world of ‘The Exorcist’ and can’t wait for audiences to experience it.”

Morgan Creek chairman and CEO David Robinson added: “It’s an honour to be working with Mike. I think his vision for this franchise is going to stun audiences worldwide, and I could not be more excited to be working with him, Trevor, Jason and the entire Blumhouse team.”

A release date, cast and plot details for Mike Flanagan’s Exorcist film have yet to be announced.

Flanagan most recently released the horror series The Fall of the House of Usher last year, ending his six-year relationship with Netflix. The eight-episode series follows the gloomy downfall of pharmaceutical kingpin Roderick Usher (played by Bruce Greenwood) and his rich family who are often at loggerheads – much like HBO’s Succession, albeit with spooky twists.

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