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Mike Flanagan will be doing a “radical” makeover of the Exorcist franchise for Blumhouse. This comes after the underwhelming latest installment, Believer, was released in 2023.
Outlets, including The Hollywood Reporter, are reporting that Flanagan has been enlisted to resurrect the Exorcist franchise. He will write, produce, and direct a new film. Blumhouse added that this will be a “radical new take” on the series. However, while it will exist in the existing Exorcist universe, it will not be a Believer sequel.
This essentially squashes any hopes of a follow-up to David Gordon Green-directed Believer. A sequel, Deceiver, was supposed to come after that. But the negative response to Believer clearly made Blumhouse and Universal change course.
Statements from Blumhouse, Flanagan, and Morgan Creek
“The Exorcist is one of the reasons I became a filmmaker, and it is an honor to have the chance to try something fresh, bold, and terrifying within its universe,” Flanagan said. “Reuniting with my friends at Blumhouse, with whom I've made some of my favorite pieces of work, only makes this more exciting.”
Jason Blum of Blumhouse weighed in: “Mike's voice and vision are indispensable for horror fans, and we are excited to welcome him back to Blumhouse. I immediately responded to Mike's new take on the world of The Exorcist and can't wait for audiences to experience it.”
David Robinson, chairman and CEO of Morgan Creek, the company that owns The Exorcist's rights, said, “It's an honor 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.”
Who is Mike Flanagan?
Mike Flanagan is known for his horror films. He made his directorial debut with Absentia and followed it up with Oculus. He then directed Hush, Before I Wake, Ouija: Origin of Evil, and Gerald's Game. Most of his early films were produced by Blumhouse.
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In 2019, Flanagan directed Doctor Sleep. The film is a sequel to The Shining. Additionally, Flanagan wrote the script and adapted Stephen King's novel of the same name.
Was The Exorcist: Believer a flop?
The Exorcist: Believer was a major box office flop. After Universal acquired the rights to the franchise for $400 million, their first entry made under $137 million.
David Gordon Green co-wrote and directed the film. Universal and Blumhouse were likely hoping for similar success to Green's Halloween series.
Beginning in 2018, Green directed a trilogy of Halloween films for Universal and Blumhouse. The films were modest box office hits and reintroduced Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode to the franchise.
Green seemingly tried to capture lightning in a bottle again with his Exorcist film. Leslie Odom Jr. and Lidya Jewett led Believer, but the film also brought Ellen Burstyn back into the fold. The Oscar winner was the star of the very first film in the series (which landed Burstyn her first Best Actress Oscar nomination one year prior to Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore).
