Fresh off their recent collaboration on The Life of Chuck, Chiwetel Ejiofor is officially reteaming with filmmaker Mike Flanagan for a bold new chapter in The Exorcist franchise.
Ejiofor has joined the cast of Flanagan’s upcoming Exorcist film, which also stars Scarlett Johansson, Jacobi Jupe, and Diane Lane. Universal Pictures has set the film for a March 12, 2027 theatrical release, with cameras set to roll imminently in New York City.
Unlike recent entries in the long-running horror series, Flanagan’s film is described as an entirely new story set within the Exorcist universe, rather than a sequel to 2023’s The Exorcist: Believer. Flanagan both wrote and will direct the project, producing under his Red Room Pictures banner.
While plot specifics remain tightly guarded, Flanagan has previously promised a “fresh and bold” approach to the iconic material—one that honors the legacy of the original while carving out new thematic ground for a modern audience.
Sources indicate Ejiofor will portray an ex-con turned priest, a role that fits squarely within the franchise’s long-standing exploration of faith, morality, and spiritual reckoning. Johansson is set to play Jupe’s mother, though additional character details remain under wraps.
The film is produced by Blumhouse–Atomic Monster, Morgan Creek Entertainment, and Red Room Pictures. Jason Blum produces for Blumhouse, with Ryan Turek serving as executive producer. David Robinson produces for Morgan Creek, while Alexandra Magistro executive produces for Red Room Pictures.
This marks Flanagan’s fourth collaboration with Blumhouse, following Oculus, Hush, and Ouija: Origin of Evil, and his second project with Ejiofor after The Life of Chuck, the Stephen King adaptation that won the People’s Choice Award at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival.