Mike Flanagan, renowned for his Stephen King film adaptations and acclaimed horror projects such as The Haunting of Hill House, has been chosen to lead a major reboot of The Exorcist franchise. Flanagan is reportedly considering actor Rebecca Ferguson—known for her roles in Dune and Doctor Sleep—for a central role, signaling ambitious plans for the series as Blumhouse turns the franchise over to his creative direction.
Flanagan’s Horror Legacy and Exorcist Vision
After The Exorcist: Believer, Blumhouse decided to end their collaboration with David Gordon Green, seeking fresh vision for the iconic series. The studio placed its faith in Mike Flanagan, a filmmaker with an impressive horror pedigree, to reimagine the legendary story as potentially
“the scariest movie of all time.”
Although the project is in early development and remains untitled, Flanagan has already begun discussions with Rebecca Ferguson, reuniting after their successful work together on Doctor Sleep, where she played the haunting character Rose the Hat.
The connection between Flanagan and Ferguson came to light during Motor City Comic Con, where Flanagan appeared on a panel alongside longtime collaborator Kate Siegel. When asked about his work on The Exorcist reboot, he confirmed that Ferguson had been among the first people he contacted once the project was announced. Flanagan acknowledged Ferguson’s packed schedule, including high-profile roles in Dune, the series Silo, and A House of Dynamite.
[She’s been busy with a] little indie project called Dune, and she’s on Season 3 of Silo right now. She still finds the time to do, like, one of the biggest movies on Netflix right now.
Rebecca Ferguson’s availability may be limited, but Flanagan made it clear their professional rapport endures, with ongoing conversations about the mysterious role she might play in the new Exorcist film.
“She’s prolific, but we’re in constant contact. Once, every couple of months, I hear from Rebecca just saying, ‘Hey, what’s going on?’ And I’ll say, ‘Hey! Would you like to come do this part? I’d love to talk to you about this thing.’
She’s always booked, but one of these days, it’ll work out for sure. I can’t give away the name of the character, but when I first got The Exorcist, she was one of my first phone calls.”
Upcoming Projects: Flanagan’s Expanding Universe
The year 2025 has marked significant achievements for Mike Flanagan. His latest Stephen King film adaptation, The Life of Chuck, received widespread acclaim for its approach to storytelling beyond the horror genre, further cementing Flanagan’s reputation for breathing new life into King’s works. Additionally, Flanagan successfully completed production on his interpretation of King’s Carrie, which has just wrapped filming and entered post-production, while its official release date awaits announcement.
Looking ahead, Flanagan is balancing several demanding projects at once. Alongside The Exorcist reboot, he is in the process of developing a television series based on Stephen King’s epic The Dark Tower. The director, however, has cautioned fans that the scale and ambition of The Dark Tower means it will be quite some time before significant updates are available. Meanwhile, The Exorcist project will unfold in parallel, with Flanagan set on revitalizing the franchise without direct oversight from Jason Blum, striving to craft a film that lives up to both fan expectations and the genre’s enduring impact.
Anticipated Impact of the Exorcist Reboot
Mike Flanagan’s approach to the Exorcist reboot is drawing significant attention, as horror audiences and industry observers speculate about his ability to revitalize a classic series. With his deep experience in adapting Stephen King and collaborating with talents like Rebecca Ferguson, fans are eagerly watching to see how the creative direction evolves. Should Ferguson take on a central role, her involvement could further elevate the project, especially given her demonstrated range in both mainstream and genre films. As the film moves through development, its progress is likely to influence both Flanagan’s career and the future of the Exorcist franchise.
