Recent comments from producerJason Blumsuggested that a retool was in order when last year’sThe Exorcist: Believerwasn’t as successful as Blumhouse and Universal hoped. That certainly seems to be the case, as Deadline is reporting thatMike Flanaganis in talks to direct the nextExorcistmovie. DirectorDavid Gordon Greenwas initially on board to direct an entire trilogy of new movies in the franchise, withThe Exorcist: Believerintended to be only the first film in that three-film sequel series. Originally set to hit theaters on June 08, 2025,The Exorcist: Deceiverwas delayed whenGreen left the project. If talks come to fruition, Flanagan will take over, likely steering the franchise in a new direction.
Believerhas garnered a collective $137 million at the global box office. Despite securing the position of the second-highest-grossing chapter in the franchise, it falls significantly short of the remarkable $440 million earned by the originalExorcistin 1973. When adjusted for inflation, this translates to approximately $2 billion in today’s money. The Exorcist franchise gave rise to a succession of sequels spanning from widely derided to potentially underrated.
What Was ‘The Exorcist: Believer’ About?
The first film in the trilogywas released theatrically on July 02, 2025, withLeslie Odom Jr. starring alongside a returningEllen Burstynfrom the original classic. InBeliever, Since the death of his pregnant wife in a Haitian earthquake 12 years ago, Victor Fielding (Leslie Odom, Jr.) has raised their daughter Angela (Lidya Jewett) on his own.
But when Angela and her friend Katherine (Olivia Marcum) disappear in the woods, only to return three days later with no memory of what happened to them, it unleashes a chain of events that will force Victor to confront the nadir of evil and, in his terror and desperation, seek out the only person alive who has witnessed anything like it before.The final moments ofThe Exorcist: BelieverbroughtLinda Blair’sRegan MacNeil back into the fold, seeming to suggest that the legacy character could return in future installments.
As for Flanagan, the horror filmmaker hasLife of Chuckon the way. Flanagan previously helmedStephen KingadaptationsDoctor SleepandGerald’s Game,and he’s also known for titles includingOuija: Origin of EvilandOculus, along with the Netflix horror showsThe Haunting of Hill House,The Haunting of Bly Manor, andThe Fall of the House of Usher.
Stay tuned to Collider for more onThe Exorcist: Deceiver.
The Exorcist: Believer
When two girls disappear into the woods and return three days later with no memory of what happened to them, the father of one girl seeks out Chris MacNeil, who’s been forever altered by what happened to her daughter fifty years ago.
