The first full trailer for director Mike Flanagan's upcoming horror film, The Exorcist: Martyrs, has been released, offering a glimpse into the supernatural thriller. The movie, starring Scarlett Johansson, promises scares for both newcomers and fans of the original franchise.
Flanagan, known for his work on Netflix series like The Haunting of Hill House and The Fall of House of Usher, as well as Stephen King adaptations, is now lending his directorial vision to the iconic Exorcist franchise. This marks his latest foray into the horror genre.
A Detective's Descent
The film centers on New York City detective Julie Miller, portrayed by Johansson. Miller is drawn back into a dark past after a new killer targets an altar boy, leaving a chilling message in his blood within a church crypt. This resurgence of evil forces her to confront the darkness she believed she had buried. She is assisted in her investigation by former prison chaplain Father William, played by Chiwetel Ejiofor, and rookie detective Gina Restrepo, portrayed by Sasha Calle.
The cast also includes Diane Lane as Detective Miller’s mother, Mary, and Jacobi Jupe as Julie's son, Max. Laurence Fishburne and John Leguizamo are set to appear as Father Sunday, the serial killer Miller previously apprehended. Samantha Sloyan, who recently collaborated with Flanagan on his Prime Video series Carrie, will also have a role in Martyrs. Sloyan described the film to Polygon as "the scariest thing" she has seen Flanagan create.
Despite a history of inconsistent entries in the franchise over the past five decades, the original The Exorcist remains a benchmark in horror cinema. Flanagan's The Exorcist: Martyrs is set to arrive in theaters on March 12, 2027.