The Exorcist: Believer fell well short of expectations in 2023. Then The Exorcist: Believer‘s planned sequel movie lost its release date and its director in early 2024. It seemed like the reboot of the famous franchise was in some trouble. But now, Mike Flanagan will direct the next Exorcist movie for Blumhouse and Universal pictures (at one point titled, The Exorcist: Deceiver). The new Exorcist movie will not, however, be a sequel to Believer. A release notes, “The film will tell an all-new story set in The Exorcist universe and is not a sequel to 2023’s The Exorcist: Believer.” Instead, Flanagan’s movie will be a “radical new take on The Exorcist.” Excitingly, the movie officially has a 2026 release date.
Flanagan has an excellent reputation for his deft, atmospheric horror—so he could be just the ticket to set the franchise back on course.
While three new Exorcist movies were imagined in this reboot attempt, it’s unknown if Flanagan will direct one or two more movies. Since the movies will no longer function as a trilogy, the fate of the third movie is yet to be determined. But if anyone can turn a franchise around, it’s The Fall of the House of Usher creator.
One thing Flanagan’s new Exorcist movie won’t include is his trademark monologues. Per Slash Film, Flanagan “recalled saying, “I don’t think this is a monologue project.” Granted, as he pointed out, the exorcism ritual itself (a lengthy recital of scripture) is kind of a monologue. However, when it comes to philosophical speeches about religion, horror, and death, Flanagan said, ‘I already got it out of my system.'”
Instead, Flanagan’s Exorcist movie will “just be really scary” but with characters that are “real and emotional and relevant.” Additionally, it seems there might not be that many Easter eggs or references to the original The Exorcist film. Slash Film notes, “the storyteller explained that his movie probably won’t include all that many illusions to the 1973 horror classic that started it all. After all, Blumhouse and Universal are giving the film a theatrical release, and with younger audiences driving the box office, they’re unlikely to be impressed by allusions to a 50-year-old movie.”
When Will Mike Flanagan’s Excorcist Movie Release?
Mike Flanagan’s Exorcist movie will release on March 13, 2026. We’ll have to wait and see if it remains titled The Exorcist: Deceiver.
Originally published on May 29, 2024.
