Mike Flanagan’s ‘Exorcist’ Movie Finds Its Star in a Former Avenger

Y’all, I did not care for Exorcist: Believer in the slightest. The 2023 film was David Gordon Green’s attempt to do with that franchise what he did with Halloween, which, on its face, sounds like a bad idea. Still, the execution was even worse than I would have expected. I wasn’t the only one who didn’t like it, either, as the film was so bad it triggered another reboot helmed by Mike Flanagan.

I love Flanagan and just want him to make his promised Dark Tower adaptation. He feels like the perfect person to adapt King’s opus for the screen, and, instead, he’s off doing other cool stuff. Not only is he directing a new Exorcist film, but he’s adapting Carrie for Amazon, and he wrote a Clayface movie for James Gunn’s DCU. I wish I were here to tell you that all those projects have taken a back seat so he could begin his search for the tower. But alas.

Instead, I can say that not only is Flanagan’s Exorcist moving forward, but it’s also cast a huge star in its lead role: Scarlett Johansson. The Avengers star is an enormous get for Flanagan’s film and puts it in a whole new bracket. There’s a possibility that Scarjo took a pay cut to be in this film, but it’s more likely that the budget is such that they can afford her. Blumhouse, which is producing the film, probably wants to avoid another bellyflop, so they’re going big instead.

Flanagan took to social media to confirm the announcement, saying, “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.” He ain’t wrong! Johansson is no stranger to all manner of roles, and could bring something special to a Flanagan horror movie. She also brings the box office.

Scarlett Johansson starring in a franchise horror movie is going to put butts in seats. I heard nothing good about the Jurassic Park movie she was in this year, and yet it almost made a billion dollars. Maybe I’m putting the cart before the horse, but I have a good feeling that Mike Flanagan’s Exorcist will be a quality film. Add a big star into the mix and baby, you got a stew going.