(Image Credit: Universal Pictures)
Written and directed by "Doctor Sleep" filmmaker Mike Flanagan, the next installment in "The Exorcist" franchise, "The Exorcist: Martyrs," has unveiled its first trailer and poster following the release of its debut images earlier this week.
Although the film entered production after "The Exorcist: Believer," it will not continue that movie’s storyline. Instead, "Martyrs" tells a new story set within the wider "Exorcist" universe. "Believer" was originally intended to launch a trilogy with two interconnected sequels, but those plans were scrapped after the film underperformed at the box office. Flanagan has now charted an entirely new path for the franchise. The movie opens in U.S. theaters on March 12, 2027.
Scarlett Johansson leads the film as Julie Miller, a New York City police detective raising her son alone. Thirteen years earlier, Julie captured an infamous satanic serial killer known as Father Sunday, whose elaborately staged crime scenes were designed to evoke the martyrdom of Roman Catholic saints. Julie took part in his execution, though none of those involved ever publicly acknowledged their role. Now, she is investigating a string of murders tied to Father Sunday. At the same time, a terrifying demonic force sets its sights on her 12-year-old son, Max.
(Image Credit: Universal Pictures)
The supporting cast includes Diane Lane as Julie’s mother and John Leguizamo as Father Sunday. Former "Supergirl" star Sasha Calle plays Julie’s colleague Gina Restrepo, while "Hamnet" breakout Jacobi Jupe portrays her son, Max. Chiwetel Ejiofor stars as the prison chaplain who oversaw Father Sunday’s execution, and Laurence Fishburne plays a priest versed in ancient exorcism rituals.
Several other cast members whose roles remain under wraps are longtime Flanagan collaborators, including Hamish Linklater, Carla Gugino, Samantha Sloyan, Rahul Kohli and the filmmaker’s wife, Kate Siegel.