The new Exorcist movie starring Scarlett Johansson has a title — The Exorcist: Martyrs — and new story details further confirm just how far writer-director Mike Flanagan is pushing the franchise away from its previous incarnations.
Scarlett Johansson Plays Rookie Detective
Via World of Reel, Johansson is set to play a small-town rookie detective who becomes entangled in a case involving what’s described internally as “inconceivable darkness.”
The role positions Johansson as the audience’s grounded entry point into the horror, rather than a legacy character tied to past Exorcist lore.
It has also been confirmed that the film has no connection to The Exorcist: Believer or its canceled sequel, Deceiver.
Flanagan reportedly wanted a clean break, focusing on atmosphere, dread, and character instead of franchise callbacks.
HAMNET Star Jacobi Jupe Cast as Her Son
Adding to the grounded approach, HAMNET actor Jacobi Jupe has been cast as Johansson’s son (via Jeff Sneider).
His role suggests the story will lean heavily into a parent-child dynamic, a familiar but effective framework Flanagan has used successfully in past projects.
That relationship is expected to play a major emotional role as the investigation spirals into darker territory.
Is Johansson’s son the one who gets possessed this time?
A Deliberate Break From Franchise Lore
The Exorcist: Martyrs is being described as a fresh concept, deliberately distanced from the mythology and continuity that bogged down Believer.
No returning characters. No legacy storylines. Just a new entry set within the Exorcist universe in name and tone only.
After Universal paid $400 million for the rights and watched Believer collapse with critics and audiences, the mandate appears clear: simplify, reset, and rebuild trust.
Flanagan’s Vision Moves Forward
Flanagan writes and directs The Exorcist: Martyrs for Blumhouse-Atomic Monster, Morgan Creek, and Universal. Scarlett Johansson’s involvement already signaled a serious reset.
Now, with a title and character details emerging, the picture is becoming clearer.
This isn’t a sequel. It’s a restart.
(note: featured image of Scarlett Johansson is from Ritual Identities)
