Mike Flanagan Is Doing A Radical Reboot Of The Exorcist

Interestingly, the development follows closely on the heels of the much-bemoaned box office bust of The Exorcist: Believer, which could only earn $65.5 million in North America and $136.2 million worldwide. Blumhouse oversaw that production, too, directed by David Gordon Green—a talent known for comedy prior—and produced by fellow comedy stalwart Danny Mcbride, among others. 

Most know Flanagan from his work on Doctor Sleep (the sequel to The Shining), Oculus, Hush, and Ouija: Origin of Evil. Perhaps the director’s fantastic treatment of Stephen King’s tried-and-true material via Doctor Sleep earned Mike Flanagan the opportunity to lend his sensibility to the Exorcist franchise. Joining Flanagan on this venture is frequent collaborator Trevor Macy of Intrepid Pictures; the director’s newly minuted Red Room Pictures banner will also help handle the project. 

Blumhouse snagged the rights to The Exorcist franchise from Morgan Creek in 2021 for a whopping $400 million. The tepid response to 2023’s The Exorcist: Believer likely motivated Blumhouse to take a fresh approach and seek out Flanagan. 

Luckily for the production company—and audiences worldwide—Flanagan will likely deliver just that; the creative is at work on a unique story set in the horror franchise’s universe, a narrative utterly distinct from that of the 2023 title. 

For his part, Mike Flanagan voiced unbridled enthusiasm about the reboot of the Exorcist film. He cited the movie as one of his inspirations for his career choice and called it “an honor to have the chance to try something fresh, bold, and terrifying within its universe.”

Whereas Jason Blum, the driving force behind Blumhouse and, of course, the source of its name, articulated similar excitement, lauding Flanagan’s “voice and vision,” adding that he reacted readily and enthusiastically to the director’s creative vision for the franchise. 

Of course, Mike Flanagan and Blumhouse share a lengthy history prior to the Exorcist reboot. The two partnered on Oculus, Hush, and Ouija—all of which were produced by Macy. Given this robust and storied background, and the level of talent involved, the film should be a resounding success. Expect Flanagan to inject engaging new life into the legendary horror universe. 

One of the most enduring and influential series in horror cinema, the franchise originated in 1973, with the classic film directed by William Friedkin. The movie was itself based on the 1971 novel of the same name by William Peter Blatty, who in turn based his narrative on a real-life event in Maryland. The tale, as many will remember, revolved around the demonic possession of a young girl named Regan MacNeil, alongside her mother’s increasingly desperate attempts to save her. 

These efforts, of course, culminate in the panicked mother seeking an exorcism conducted by two priests. 

With Mike Flanagan taking the lead on a reboot of The Exorcist, horror aficionados and film fans globally should be on the edge of their seats. This is perhaps cinema’s finest horror franchise, soon to be directed by one of the top horror directors today.

It’s great news indeed. 

Source: Deadline