Laurence Fishburne, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Diane Lane Join Mike Flanagan’s The Exorcist Reboot

Laurence Fishburne, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Diane Lane have joined the cast of Mike Flanagan’s highly anticipated reimagining of The Exorcist. Fishburne’s addition expands an already star-studded roster that includes Scarlett Johansson and Jacobi Jupe, bringing even more gravitas to the project.

Flanagan’s film is not a sequel to the 2023 instalment The Exorcist: Believer. Instead, it is described as an all-new story set within The Exorcist universe, offering a fresh narrative rather than a continuation of past instalments.

Fishburne, best known for his roles as Morpheus in The Matrix series and for acclaimed performances across film and television, adds a commanding presence that promises to deepen the emotional stakes of Flanagan’s horror vision. Oscar nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor, a frequent Flanagan collaborator, is expected to play a significant role, reportedly as an ex-con turned priest. He joins Johansson, who headlines the cast, and Diane Lane, the Academy Award nominee known for her wide-ranging work in both drama and genre films.

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Specific plot details remain tightly under wraps, but filming is set to take place in New York City with a March 12, 2027 theatrical release planned. The production is backed by Blumhouse-Atomic Monster and Morgan Creek Entertainment, with Flanagan writing and directing through his Red Room Pictures banner.

For horror fans and cinephiles alike, this project represents a fascinating evolution for a franchise that has left an indelible mark on pop culture since the original 1973 film. With Flanagan’s track record – from The Haunting of Hill House to Doctor Sleep -and this eclectic cast, expectations are high that his Exorcist will offer something both fresh and deeply unsettling when it arrives in cinemas next year.

About the Author

Megan Hilborne

Author

Megan is a freelance writer and film critic based in Portsmouth. She graduated with a degree in Film in 2020 and has continued her study of the medium in her day-to-day life. She takes particular interest in indie, horror, feminist and queer cinema. Some of her writing credits include an interview with Academy Award winner Sean Baker and Time’s 2025 Most Influential People inductee Mo Abudu.

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