Laurence Fishburne is stepping into The Exorcist universe, joining a high-profile new chapter that brings together Scarlett Johansson and filmmaker Mike Flanagan for an all-new supernatural nightmare.
An Oscar nominee and an Emmy and Tony Award winner, Fishburne becomes the latest major addition to the franchise reboot, which is being positioned as a creative reset rather than a continuation of recent installments. The ensemble cast, already led by Johansson, also includes Jacobi Jupe, Diane Lane and Chiwetel Ejiofor, assembling a lineup that signals a prestige-driven approach to one of horror’s most iconic properties.
While details about Fishburne’s role are being kept tightly under wraps, the direction of the project is clear. The film will tell a completely original story set within The Exorcist universe and will not serve as a sequel to 2023’s The Exorcist: Believer. The decision reflects a broader effort to reframe the franchise through character, atmosphere and thematic weight, rather than direct narrative continuity.
The project is set to shoot in New York City, grounding its supernatural elements in a contemporary urban setting. Universal Pictures has slated the film for a wide theatrical release in March 2027, underlining the studio’s confidence in the project as a major big-screen event rather than a niche genre offering.
Behind the scenes, the film is backed by a formidable production lineup. Blumhouse–Atomic Monster and Morgan Creek Entertainment are producing alongside Flanagan, who is writing and directing the film under his Red Room Pictures banner. Alexandra Magistro will executive produce for Red Room, with David Robinson producing for Morgan Creek, while Jason Blum and Ryan Turek are attached as producer and executive producer, respectively, for Blumhouse–Atomic Monster. The combination brings together some of the most influential names currently shaping studio horror.
Fishburne’s casting adds considerable gravitas to the reboot. Best known globally for his portrayal of Morpheus in The Matrix franchise, Fishburne has built a career spanning more than five decades, beginning with his film debut at just 15 in Apocalypse Now. His body of work includes acclaimed films such as Boyz n the Hood, The Color Purple, Mystic River, Deep Cover and King of New York, along with an Academy Award nomination for What’s Love Got to Do with It. On television and stage, he has earned multiple Emmys — including for #FreeRayshawn — and a Tony Award for August Wilson’s Two Trains Running.
Beyond acting, Fishburne is also an established producer. In 2000, he co-founded Cinema Gypsy Productions with partner Helen Sugland, a company behind projects such as black-ish and its spinoffs, as well as the Emmy-winning animated series Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur. His involvement in the new Exorcist film therefore brings not just star power, but a seasoned creative perspective shaped by decades across film, television and theater.
With a prestige ensemble, a filmmaker closely associated with character-driven horror, and a deliberate move away from recent franchise continuity, this new Exorcist film is being positioned as a defining reboot for the long-running series. As production gears up and the March 2027 release date comes into focus, the project is already emerging as one of the most closely watched horror titles on Universal’s upcoming slate.
