'Hamnet' star joins Scarlett Johansson for Mike Flanagan's upcoming 'Exorcist' movie
Things are definitely looking up for 'The Exorcist', directed by Mike Flanagan and produced by Universal and Blumhouse. The original 'Exorcist' directed by the late William Friedkin was a raging success and is still considered to be a trend setter. This had led to several spinoffs and sequels in the past, with the most recent being 2023's 'The Exorcist: Believer'. However, Flanagan has been standing firm with his decision to make a standalone film that would once again revive audience interest in the franchise, but would not be a sequel or a remake.
As per an earlier report by The Hollywood Reporter, Academy Award nominee Scarlett Johansson has been brought on board the upcoming 'Exorcist' movie. Now, a ScreenRant report confirms that child actor Jacobi Jupe has been signed to play an important character in the Flanagan directorial. Jupe was most recently seen playing the titular role in the film 'Hamnet', which has been receiving positive reviews from across the board and is shaping up to be a formidable contender for the Best Picture Oscar. Jupe has already cemented his position after being nominated for the Best Young Actor award at the Critics' Choice Awards. He is the brother of actor Noah Jupe and has also starred in 'Peter Pan and Wendy'.
However, plot and character details surrounding Johansson and Jupe in the upcoming 'Exorcist' movie are being kept under wraps by both Flanagan and Universal Studios, and Blumhouse. If one were to believe ongoing speculations, Jupi might be seen as Johansson's son and the one who is possessed. The film was initially speculated to be released on March 13, 2026. However, that was soon debunked by Flanagan himself when he responded to a fan query on Tumblr about the film's status by saying, "Production hasn’t started, we need to finish Carrie first. No way it's coming out next March. Nothing to worry about, though." The film's production kicks off in March 2026 in New York.
Flanagan is considered to be a contemporary master of horror, with shows like 'The Haunting of Hill House' and 'The Fall of the House of Usher' to his credit. He has been frequently adapting Stephen King's novels for the big screen, with previous releases like 'Gerald's Game' and 'Doctor Sleep'. Flanagan has been deeply attached to the 'Exorcist' since an early age, and reflected on it when the upcoming movie was first announced in May 2024: "The Exorcist is one of the reasons I became a filmmaker, and it is an honor to have the chance to try something fresh, bold, and terrifying within its universe."
The director had added, "This is an opportunity to do something that I believe has never been done within the franchise—something that honors what came before it but isn't built on nostalgia. I really just saw an opportunity to make the scariest movie I've ever made. I know expectations are high. No one's more intimidated than I am." Flanagan will be co-producing the movie under the banner of his Red Room Pictures, alongside David Robinson of Morgan Creek Entertainment and Ryan Turek and Jason Blum from Blumhouse.
