Mike Flanagan’s The Exorcist Movie With Scarlett Johansson Is Back on Track for 2027

Mike Flanagan’s long-anticipated take on The Exorcist is officially back on the calendar, and yes, Scarlett Johansson is still very much involved.

Universal confirmed Friday that Flanagan’s “radical redo” of the horror classic will hit theaters on March 12, 2027, reclaiming a prime spring break release slot after a period of uncertainty. The film had originally been slated for March 13, 2026, before being quietly pulled from the schedule last summer, which naturally sparked some concern among horror fans. Turns out, the project was never dead — just regrouping.

The 2027 date puts The Exorcist in a relatively quiet weekend, with Sony’s animated Buds as its only competition, signaling that Universal still views this as a major event release. That confidence tracks, especially considering the creative forces involved.

Blumhouse confirmed back in May 2024 that Flanagan was going all-in on the project following his impressive run in horror and prestige TV, including The Haunting of Hill House, Midnight Mass, and The Fall of the House of Usher, as well as films like Doctor Sleep and The Life of Chuck. Shortly after, Scarlett Johansson signed on to star, with Hamnet actor Jacobi Jupe later joining the cast.

More importantly, Flanagan’s Exorcist won’t be tied to the recent attempts to reboot the franchise. This is being billed as a completely standalone story, separate from 2023’s The Exorcist: Believer, which had mixed reception despite pulling in $136.2 million worldwide.

The film is being produced by Blumhouse, Atomic Monster, and Morgan Creek Entertainment, with Jason Blum and Flanagan himself producing. Given Flanagan’s reputation for character-driven horror and Johansson’s star power, expectations are understandably high.

Bottom line: The Exorcist is back, it’s aiming big, and if Flanagan delivers the kind of emotional, unsettling horror he’s known for, 2027 could be a very good year to be scared.