Mike Flanagan’s New ‘Exorcist’ Film Delayed; Prioritizes ‘Carrie’ Series

The release of filmmaker Mike Flanagan’s upcoming installment in ‘The Exorcist’ franchise could be delayed. Flanagan addressed a fan’s query about the project’s progression on Tumblr, saying that he first needs to wrap up his ‘Carrie’ series for Amazon MGM Studios. He confirmed that the movie wouldn’t hit theaters as scheduled next March. The Hollywood Reporter had earlier reported a March 13, 2026 release date for the Universal Pictures project.

– Filmmaker Mike Flanagan’s upcoming Exorcist project may be delayed as he prioritizes his Carrie series for Amazon MGM Studios. The new Exorcist movie, announced in 2024, was originally set for release in March 2026.
– The upcoming Exorcist film is not a sequel to a previous installment and is expected to offer a radical new take on the franchise. Flanagan has shared that it presents an opportunity to do something unique within the franchise.
– Flanagan, known for his work on Netflix series The Fall of the House of Usher and The Haunting of Hill House, hopes to make the scariest movie in his career with the new Exorcist concept.

Fans of The Exorcist may feel a bit queasy upon hearing that the expected release of Mike Flanagan’s upcoming film might be further delayed.

The moviemaker addressed a fan’s query on Tumblr about the progress of his latest installment in the franchise. In 2021, The Hollywood Reporter announced Flanagan’s involvement as the writer, director, and producer of a new venture in The Exorcist universe, set for debut on March 13, 2026, under Universal Pictures. The cast has not been declared yet.

In his response, Flanagan clarified that his immediate attention is devoted to his Carrie series, an Amazon MGM Studios adaptation of Stephen King’s 1974 book. He posted, “Production hasn’t started; we need to complete Carrie first. There’s no chance of release next March. But that’s not a problem.”

The upcoming extension to The Exorcist franchise, co-produced by Blumhouse and Morgan Creek, was formerly proclaimed in May 2024. Unlike prior sequels, the new film presents an alternative perspective on the Exorcist narrative. In 2021, Universal invested a substantial $400 million to acquire an Exorcist trilogy from director David Gordon Green. However, following lackluster critique and a disappointing return of $137 million at the box office for Green’s The Exorcist: Believer in 2023, the trilogy was dropped.

The iconic franchise began with William Friedkin’s acclaimed horror film The Exorcist in 1973, featuring Ellen Burstyn and Max von Sydow, and was inspired by William Peter Blatty’s 1971 novel.

Discussing the upcoming movie in a prior interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Flanagan acknowledged the dilemma of revamping a beloved franchise.

“I pursued The Exorcist passionately, as I was sure I had a unique perspective to contribute,” he mentioned. “This gives me the chance to create something unprecedented within the franchise — something that respects its origins without relying on nostalgia. Primarily, I recognized an opportunity to make the most terrifying film I’ve ever made. I get that anticipations are high. I’m undoubtedly feeling the pressure more than anyone.”

Flanagan, celebrated for Netflix productions like The Fall of the House of Usher and The Haunting of Hill House, and directing movies like Doctor Sleep, has a new film, The Life of Chuck, screened in select theaters this Friday.