Horror maestro Mike Flanagan is about to put a terrifying new spin on one of the genre’s most iconic properties. Universal Pictures has announced that Flanagan’s reimagined The Exorcist film will hit theaters on the ominous date of Friday, March 13th, 2026.
This new take marks a major course correction for the prestigious horror franchise after last year’s The Exorcist: Believer, the first installment of a planned trilogy, failed to connect with audiences. Rather than serving as a direct sequel, Flanagan’s film will forge an “entirely new narrative nightmare” completely separate from previous Exorcist stories.
Known for acclaimed horror projects like The Haunting of Hill House and Doctor Sleep, Flanagan has been tasked with breathing new life into The Exorcist through his self-described “radical new take” on the demonic possession premise.
While specific plot details are tightly under wraps, the film is expected to recreate the nightmarish terror that made the 1973 original a cultural phenomenon and Oscar contender upon release.
Flanagan’s Exorcist effort will be produced through his Intrepid Pictures banner along with longtime collaborator Trevor Macy. The project also reteams the filmmaker with Blumhouse, marking their fourth collaboration following Oculus, Hush, and Ouija: Origin of Evil.
Jason Blum will produce for Blumhouse, which acquired The Exorcist rights alongside Morgan Creek Productions in a massive $400 million deal back in 2021. However, the initial Blumhouse trilogy plans crumbled after Believer’s critical and commercial underperformance.
By recruiting the acclaimed Flanagan, Universal and Blumhouse are entrusting one of modern horror’s most prestigious voices to steer The Exorcist franchise in an audacious new direction, eschewing direct connections to existing storylines.
An official title and cast details are still forthcoming, but eager horror fans can already start marking their calendars for Friday, March 13th, 2026. That ominous release date sets the stage for Flanagan’s hotly anticipated, boundary-pushing vision to revive and redefine The Exorcist’s iconic brand of supernatural terror for a new generation.
