The Exorcist star hits out at new movie: "It's enough already"

Following the critical mauling of The Exorcist: Believer, not many fans were rushing for another instalment in the long-running horror franchise. And they got their wish for a bit, as a planned trilogy was scrapped.

There was some change, however, as acclaimed filmmaker Mike Flanagan - known for The Haunting of Hill House and Midnight Mass - was confirmed to be reviving the franchise with The Exorcist: Martyrs.

Little is known about the upcoming project aside from its stacked cast and creative team, though fans are at least excited by the film given Flanagan's work in the horror genre over the last decade.

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Not everybody is too enamoured with the upcoming film, however, as Ellen Burstyn - who played Chris MacNeil in both the original 1973 film and Believer - is of the opinion that the franchise should remain dormant.

When asked by Variety about Martyrs, Burstyn was adamant that the horror franchise was long past its sell-by date, noting: "Isn't there enough already of the Exorcist thing? It's enough already."

Naturally, she won't be reprising her role as Chris in the film, though it does have a stellar cast. Scarlett Johansson is confirmed to be playing a homicide detective, while Chiwetel Ejiofor will portray a prison chaplain.

Elsewhere, the supporting cast includes Diane Lane, Jacobi Jupe, Sasha Calle, Scoot McNairy, Gil Bellows, Laurence Fishburne and John Leguizamo. Hamish Linklater, who worked with Flanagan on Midnight Mass, has also been cast.

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Speaking about Martyrs when the project was announced, Flanagan said: "The Exorcist is one of the reasons I became a filmmaker, and it is an honour to have the chance to try something fresh, bold, and terrifying within its universe."

"Reuniting with my friends at Blumhouse, with whom I've made some of my favourite pieces of work, only makes this more exciting," added the filmmaker, who also directed The Life of Chuck and Doctor Sleep.

The Exorcist: Martyrs is scheduled to be released on 12 March 2027.

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Reporter, Digital Spy George is a freelance writer who specialises in Movies and TV. After graduating with a degree in Film Studies and Journalism from De Montfort University, in which he analysed the early works of Richard Linklater for his dissertation, he wrote for several websites for GRV Media.  His film tastes vary from blockbusters like Mission: Impossible and John Wick to international directors such as Paolo Sorrentino and Hirokazu Kore-eda, and has attended both the London and Berlin film festivals.