Renowned genre filmmaker Mike Flanagan (The Life of Chuck) is in talks to direct the next Exorcist film for Blumhouse and Universal Pictures, sources have confirmed to Deadline.
Uni and Blumhouse declined comment. Should a deal make, Flanagan would take over the reins from David Gordon Green, who exited the rebooted franchise back in January. Universal and Blumhouse bought rights to The Exorcist from Morgan Creek back in July 2021 for $400M, and while the plan at that point was for at least three new films to be made, it’s unclear whether Flanagan would be on for more than one.
Starring Leslie Odom Jr. as well as franchise veteran Ellen Burstyn, trilogy launcher The Exorcist: Believer fell beneath expectations when it opened to a soft $26.4M domestic last October, going on to gross $65.5M U.S./Canada, $136.2M WW.
Originally set to hit theaters on April 18, 2025, sequel The Exorcist: Deceiver was pushed when Green bowed out, with Lionsgate’s Michael Jackson biopic Michael taking its place in that slot. Green went on to direct the film Nutcrackers, marking Ben Stiller’s first starring role in six years, also returning to work on the HBO’s The Righteous Gemstones, whose fourth season has not yet been dated for release.
Coming off of the Stephen King adaptation The Life of Chuck, starring Tom Hiddleston, Mark Hamill and more, Flanagan prior to that created The Fall of the House of Usher for Netflix, a gothic horror miniseries taking inspiration from the stories of Edgar Allen Poe. Previously taking on King with projects like Doctor Sleep and Gerald’s Game, he’s also known for features like Ouija: Origin of Evil and Oculus, along with The Haunting of Hill House, The Haunting of Bly Manor, The Midnight Club and other series. He’s partners in Intrepid Pictures with Trevor Macy.
Flanagan is repped by WME, Novo Entertainment, and VanderKloot Law.