As Mike Flanagan readies his latest horror project, Carrie, for release, the prolific writer-director has already wrapped filming on his next feature, The Exorcist: Martyrs|The Exorcist: Martyrs, which is set to hit theaters on March 12, 2027. While virtually nothing has been revealed about Flanagan’s interpretation of the long-running franchise, a cast member has now offered a striking assessment of the production, calling it the scariest thing the filmmaker has ever put on screen.
The comments came during a Polygon interview with Samantha Sloyan, one of Flanagan’s frequent collaborators whose credits span Hush, Midnight Mass, Carrie, and The Exorcist: Martyrs. Asked to share details about the upcoming film, Sloyan was coy about the specifics but emphatic about the film’s impact.
A Cast Member’s Bold Claim
“I can’t really say anything because the truth is I’m such a small component. I am really in and out,” Sloyan told Polygon, before offering a rare glimpse into the tone of the production. “I think it’s going to be probably the scariest thing that I’ve seen him do thus far. I’m very excited.”
“I was really excited to be a part of it from the little that I saw just working there and what I could see on the monitors and stuff like that, it’s absolutely a stunning movie and I think it’s going to be probably the scariest thing that I’ve seen him do thus far.”
Samantha Sloyan, cast member
For a filmmaker who has built his career adapting classic horror for a modern audience while also developing original material, the claim is a bold one. It is also a reassuring one for a project that carries an enormous burden. The Exorcist: Martyrs must live up to the 1973 original, widely regarded as the scariest movie ever made, while simultaneously washing away the bad taste left behind by 2023’s critically panned The Exorcist: Believer.
What We Know About the Plot
Nothing has been officially announced regarding the story, but according to one report, the plot centers on a single mother who works as a police officer and helped arrest a satanic serial killer thirteen years earlier. Her twelve-year-old son is now believed to be possessed by a demon, while a fresh string of murders appears to be tied to her past.
The premise suggests Flanagan intends to weave a personal, character-driven narrative around the supernatural horror that defines the franchise, a approach consistent with the emotional weight he has brought to prior adaptations.
A Star-Studded Cast
The film stars Scarlett Johansson, presumably as the officer, though that casting detail remains unconfirmed. Joining her in the ensemble are child actor Jacobi Jupe, likely as the possessed son, alongside Diane Lane, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Laurence Fishburne, Sasha Calle, Carl Lumbly, and John Leguizamo, who allegedly plays the earlier serial killer, Father Sunday.
From Flanagan’s usual creative circle, the cast also includes Rahul Kohli, Hamish Linklater, Carla Gugino, Samantha Sloyan, and Kate Siegel, reinforcing the sense that this is a project assembled by a trusted ensemble rather than a studio-mandated assembly of names.
Looking Ahead
The Exorcist: Martyrs is scheduled to release in theaters on March 12, 2027, giving the studio ample time to build anticipation and reveal trailers, posters, and further plot details in the months leading up to the premiere. Until then, Flanagan’s collaborators will likely keep the specifics under wraps, though Sloyan’s enthusiasm offers early evidence that the director is pushing his horror credentials further than ever.
For fans still recovering from the disappointment of The Exorcist: Believer, and for those hoping Flanagan can honor a landmark of the genre, the coming years will reveal whether this ambitious sequel can reclaim the franchise’s reputation as a wellspring of genuine dread.
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