Scarlett Johansson Is The Game-Changer Mike Flanagan’s Exorcist Needs

Scarlett Johansson is stepping into Mike Flanagan’s Exorcist, a bold move that could jolt this haunted franchise back to life.

When David Gordon Green walked away from his planned Exorcist trilogy, I exhaled. I didn’t hate Believer the way some folks did, but after that Halloween trilogy faceplant, my confidence was shot. I figured Universal would let the demon rest for a bit. Then again, when you spend something like $500 million on a franchise, you do not leave it in the attic. Enter Mike Flanagan. And now, Scarlett Johansson.

Quick rewind: how we got here

Universal and partners sunk a reported half-billion-ish into The Exorcist rights, set up a new trilogy with David Gordon Green, released Believer, and then plans shifted when DGG exited. Instead of shelving it, the studio moved fast and tapped Mike Flanagan to write and direct the next film.

Why Flanagan changes the math

I’m all-in on Flanagan. Midnight Mass is borderline sacred to me: big chewy monologues, gorgeous imagery, and character arcs that actually land. The guy rarely misses, and in my book he hasn’t missed at all. If you want proof he can do possession without resorting to cheap jump scares, point to Ouija: Origin of Evil. He can absolutely play in The Exorcist sandbox.

Would I also like him to be laser-focused on those other things he has cooking, like his long-gestating Dark Tower plans? Yep. And he’s been busy over at Amazon too, where he’s making a new Carrie series. Still, I’m not going to complain about getting more Flanagan. It’s a good problem to have.

Scarlett Johansson joins the party

Here’s the update that actually moved my needle: Scarlett Johansson has signed on for Flanagan’s Exorcist movie. I like Johansson a lot, even if the last several years have leaned heavy on the green-screen blockbusters. Jojo Rabbit in 2019 reminded everyone she’s got more gears than just action mode. As for horror, we really haven’t seen her go there since Under the Skin, if you want to count that one, which makes this extra interesting.

Her jumping into a Flanagan project tells me two things. One, the script must be strong enough to nab an A-lister who does not need to say yes to anything. Two, Flanagan keeps attracting serious talent, which bodes well for what this movie is actually going to be.

The fun possibility: a longer team-up

Flanagan has a well-loved repertory company: Kate Siegel, Henry Thomas, Rahul Kohli, and more, all of whom he gives chewy, actor-friendly roles. If Johansson clicks with him here, I would love to see her become a recurring face in that world. Between her giant franchise work - hello, the Jurassic films - it would be great if she made a habit of sliding into Flanagan’s smarter, smaller nightmares.

Where things stand

• David Gordon Green exited his planned Exorcist trilogy after Believer; Universal kept pushing forward because, well, $500 million is not couch change.
• Mike Flanagan is now writing and directing a new Exorcist film. His track record: Midnight Mass, The Haunting shows, Doctor Sleep, and possession done right with Ouija: Origin of Evil.
• He has other irons in the fire (Dark Tower, plus that Carrie series at Amazon), but this Exorcist is happening.
• Scarlett Johansson has joined the cast. Her last real brush with horror was Under the Skin, and her dramatic chops (see Jojo Rabbit) make this a sharp fit.
• The combo of Flanagan’s scripts and Johansson’s range could actually make this worth the franchise’s very pricey headache.

I hope you like delivering long, soul-searching monologues, Scarlett. Flanagan writes the kind actors live for.