Filmmaker Mike Flanagan has a hit on his hands with the “Carrie” series, which has been renewed for a second season. However, he’s not slowing down. Flanagan is officially taking the legendary horror franchise, The Exorcist, into darker, more grounded territory. A newly released official image (via Screen Rant) from The Exorcist: Martyrs highlights lead actress Scarlett Johansson as homicide detective Julie Miller. The atmospheric still shows her kneeling beside a dead body inside a dimly lit church. Police tape stretches across the crime scene as uniformed officers surround the area.
Investigating the Legacy of Father Sunday
The story follows Miller as she investigates a string of terrifying, ritualistic killings. The first trailer (below) revealed her witnessing the official execution of “Father Sunday,” an infamous serial killer played by John Leguizamo. Instead, gruesome crime scenes continue appearing.
Deep Connections to Franchise Lore
Eagle-eyed genre fans previously spotted compelling clues connecting the new film to franchise canon. The official teaser displays a Kinderman nameplate on Miller’s police desk alongside a framed photograph of George C. Scott. Scott portrayed Detective Kinderman in The Exorcist III. This suggests Johansson may be playing his grown daughter. Background shelves also appear to feature a subtle image of Regan MacNeil from the original masterpiece.
High Praise From the Director
Flanagan has been vocal about his deep respect for William Peter Blatty’s original vision. During recent convention appearances, the director praised The Exorcist III as an underrated masterpiece within the genre. He also said Martyrs is the scariest project he has ever made. Universal Pictures will release The Exorcist: Martyrs exclusively in theaters on March 12, 2027, and fans of the franchise and the director are excited.
