Universal bets $400 million on Mike Flanagan's Exorcist reboot
Universal gave The Exorcist: Martyrs to director Mike Flanagan. The previous film underperformed despite a $400 million franchise rights deal.
Three years after The Exorcist franchise stalled, Universal is relaunching it. Universal hired writer-director Mike Flanagan and Scarlett Johansson.
The studio paid $400 million for franchise rights in 2021 and planned three films. The 2023 reboot The Exorcist: Believer made $137 million globally.
It also faced poor reviews. Universal dropped the planned second film, The Exorcist: Deceiver.
Flanagan is known for horror hits like Midnight Mass and The Fall of the House of the Usher. He brings a fresh vision.
The film is titled The Exorcist: Martyrs. It follows NYPD detective Julie Miller (Johansson) as she investigates a murderer called Father Sunday.
There is also a new wave of killings. It releases March 12, 2027.
- 400 million dollars in 2021
- Franchise rights cost
- 137 million dollars globally
- Believer box office
- March 12, 2027
- Release date
- Scarlett Johansson
- Lead actress
Why it mattersHollywood's franchise bets often fail. Giving a $400 million investment to a trusted horror director signals a change. The shift moves from blockbuster formula to artistic vision.
AustraliaThe film arrives in Australian cinemas March 2027; Johansson and Flanagan's names carry strong local box-office pull.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 3 h ago
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