Scarlett Johansson to Star in New ‘Exorcist’ Movie

According To The variety Scarlett Johansson will star in the next “Exorcist” movie for Universal and Blumhouse-Atomic Monster. Mike Flanagan is writing, directing and producing the newest installment, which has been described as a “radical new take” on the property. The original “Exorcist,” directed by William Friedkin, follows a mother (Ellen Burstyn) who hires two Catholic priests to perform an exorcism on her demonically possessed 12-year-old (Linda Blair). Released in 1973, the film was a critical and commercial hit with $441 million globally in addition to 10 Oscar nominations “Scarlett is a brilliant actress whose captivating performances always feel grounded and real, from genre films to summer blockbusters, and I couldn’t be happier to have her join this ‘Exorcist’ film,” said Flanagan, best known for “Doctor Sleep” and “The Life of Chuck.” Universal shelled out a staggering $400 million in 2021 to buy the rights for a new “Exorcist” trilogy. However, the studio failed to launch a franchise with the first attempt, 2023’s “The Exorcist: Believer.” That film, which brought back Burstyn as Chris MacNeil as well as several new characters, earned $136 million at the global box office, which is decent but not enough to spark interest in sequelsThe upcoming “Exorcist” will be set in the same universe as the 1973 film and isn’t a sequel to “Believer.” Beyond that, plot details and additional cast members haven’t been confirmed. Filming will take place in New York City. Johansson recently helped revive another major franchise for Universal with this summer’s “Jurassic World Rebirth,” which generated $868 million globally. An Oscar nominee for “Marriage Story” and “Jojo Rabbit,” Johansson made her directorial debut earlier this year with “Eleanor the Great,” a feel-good dramedy starring June Squibb.