Mike Flanagan brings a terrifying new chapter to The Exorcist franchise, starring Scarlett Johansson, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Laurence Fishburne and John Leguizamo.
The first trailer for THE EXORCIST: MARTYRS has arrived, introducing a disturbing new chapter in one of cinema’s most legendary horror franchises. Academy Award nominee Scarlett Johanssonleads the supernatural crime thriller from writer and director Mike Flanagan, whose previous work includes, Carrie, The Haunting of Hill House, Midnight Mass, and Doctor Sleep.
The upcoming film takes the franchise in a different direction, combining a serial killer investigation with religious horror and supernatural forces. Johansson stars as a New York City detective whose past comes back to haunt her when a series of gruesome murders reveals connections to a satanic killer she stopped more than a decade earlier.
Joining Johansson is an impressive ensemble featuring Chiwetel Ejiofor, Diane Lane, Sasha Calle, Scoot McNairy, Gil Bellows, Laurence Fishburne and John Leguizamo.
Scarlett Johansson Investigates a Satanic Serial Killer
Johansson portrays Julie Miller, a New York City detective whose career was defined by her confrontation with a notorious satanic serial killer known as Father Sunday, played by John Leguizamo.
Thirteen years ago, Miller ended Father Sunday’s reign of terror, becoming a hero in the process. She has spent the years since throwing herself into her work, seemingly leaving the horrifying experience behind.
However, the past returns when a new killer writes Julie’s name in an altar boy’s blood across the walls of a church crypt.
The disturbing crime drags her into another investigation, suggesting the evil she confronted years earlier may have never truly disappeared.
Determined to uncover the truth, Julie joins forces with Father William, played by Academy Award nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor. A former prison chaplain, William heard Father Sunday’s final confession and may hold crucial information about the killer’s past.
The investigation also introduces Gina Restrepo, a sharp rookie detective portrayed by Sasha Calle, who works alongside Julie to uncover the connection between the murders.
Their search eventually reveals a mysterious thread linking notorious serial killers throughout history, including H.H. Holmes and the Zodiac Killer.
As the evidence begins pointing toward something beyond human understanding, Julie discovers a supernatural threat capable of corrupting everything and everyone she loves.
John Leguizamo Takes on a Sinister New Role
One of the film’s most intriguing casting choices is John Leguizamo as Father Sunday, the satanic serial killer responsible for the traumatic investigation that shaped Julie Miller’s career.
Known for his performances in John Wick, Carlito’s Way, The Menu, and The Odyssey, Leguizamo steps into what is being described as one of the most menacing roles of his career.
Father Sunday remains a central figure in the mystery despite Julie having stopped his killing spree thirteen years earlier. His final confession and connection to the new murders suggest a much larger evil operating behind the crimes.
The character also introduces one of the film’s most unsettling questions: Can the actions of history’s most notorious killers be connected to something supernatural?
The supporting cast expands the mystery with several characters who may hold answers about Father Sunday’s influence.
Scoot McNairy portrays Clay Silver, a paroled convict, while Gil Bellows plays Peter Nicks, a former acolyte of Father Sunday.
Emmy and Tony Award winner Laurence Fishburne joins the cast as Father Nichol, a revered priest whose presence adds another religious dimension to the unfolding investigation.
Meanwhile, Diane Lane portrays Julie’s mother, Mary, who has moved into her daughter’s home to help raise her grandson Max, played by Jacobi Jupe.
Julie’s responsibilities as a detective and mother create additional stakes as the investigation threatens to invade her personal life.
Mike Flanagan Brings His Horror Vision to The Exorcist
Mike Flanagan has established himself as one of modern horror’s most recognizable filmmakers, building a career around supernatural stories that explore grief, trauma, faith and the darker sides of human nature.
His acclaimed Netflix projects include The Haunting of Hill House, Midnight Mass and The Fall of the House of Usher.
Flanagan’s filmography also includes Doctor Sleep, Hush, Gerald’s Game and The Life of Chuck. His upcoming adaptation of Stephen King’s Carrie further demonstrates his continued interest in bringing iconic horror stories to new audiences.
With THE EXORCIST: MARTYRS, Flanagan takes on a franchise that helped establish the foundation of modern supernatural horror.
The original The Exorcist, directed by William Friedkin and released in 1973, became one of the most influential horror films ever made. Based on William Peter Blatty’s novel, the story introduced audiences to a terrifying battle between demonic possession and religious faith.
THE EXORCIST: MARTYRS releases in theaters March 12, 2027.
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