We had earlier reported that Scarlett Johansson will be leading Mike Flanagan's upgraded take on William Friedkin's 1973 horror classic The Exorcist. The cast list has now grown bigger with the addition of Laurence Fishburne ("The Matrix", "Hannibal") and Chiwetel Ejiofor "Children of Men", "The Martian").
The two actors join Johansson and Jacobi Jupe in the film slated for release on March 12, 2027.
Currently one of the hottest properties in Hollywood and a celebrated name among horror genre aficionados, Flanagan (Netflix's "The Fall of the House of Usher", "Midnight Mass") was recently confirmed to direct a new entry in the series, which is said to be set in the same universe as the original film based on William Peter Blatty's novel.
On casting Johansson in the role, Flanagan earlier told entertainment outlet Deadline: “Scarlett is a brilliant actress whose captivating performances always feel grounded and real, from genre films to summer blockbusters, and I couldn’t be happier to have her join this Exorcist film.”
The new version, scripted by Flanagan, is expected to be a completely different, never-before-seen take on the iconic property that spawned multiple sequels, none of which has been able to match the quality of the Friedkin original.
Notably, this is Flanagan's second attempt at the reboot of an established property after Carrie, the Stephen King novel.
The last entry in the franchise, The Exorcist: Believer, was a miss at the box office, with largely negative reviews.
Johannsson, who has never appeared in a full-fledged horror feature before, was last seen in Jurassic World: Rebirth, which grossed around $869 million worldwide.
With multiple acclaimed projects under his belt such as Gerald's Game and Doctor Sleep, aside from shows like Midnight Mass, The Fall of the House of Usher, and The Haunting of Hill House, Flanagan has become a hot property in Hollywood.
Flanagan, whose last feature was the adaptation of the Stephen King story The Life of Chuck, recently wrapped up filming the reboot of another iconic horror classic Carrie. Originally adapted by Brian De Palma, also based on a Stephen King novel, is being adapted into a multi-episode series format by Flanagan, who recently announced its completion. He is also working on the television adaptation of King's popular fantasy book series The Dark Tower.