THE EXORCIST: MARTYRS Aims To Continue One Of Horror’s Most Enduring Legacies

July 2, 2026

Introduction

Few horror films have left a mark on popular culture quite like The Exorcist (1973). The film redefined what audiences expected from the genre. It combined psychological drama, religious themes, and shocking supernatural horror in a way that had rarely been seen before. Directed by William Friedkin and adapted by author William Peter Blatty from his own bestselling 1971 novel, The Exorcist became an instant cultural phenomenon.

Despite intense controversy surrounding its graphic imagery and subject matter, The Exorcist was a massive commercial success. The film grossed more than $440 million worldwide across its various theatrical releases. It also became the first horror film nominated for Best Picture, and won for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Sound.

More than five decades later, the film remains widely regarded as one of the greatest horror films ever made. It has regularly appeared near the top of critics’ and fans’ rankings for decades. Alongside classics such as Psycho (1960), Halloween (1978), and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974), The Exorcist occupies a permanent place on horror’s Mount Rushmore.

The Exorcist

Based on Blatty’s novel, The Exorcist follows actress Chris MacNeil (Ellen Burstyn) as she desperately searches for answers after her 12-year-old daughter, Regan (Linda Blair), begins exhibiting terrifying and increasingly unexplainable behavior. After medical science fails to provide an explanation, two Catholic priests, Father Damien Karras (Jason Miller) and the elderly Father Lankester Merrin (Max von Sydow), attempt to perform an exorcism to save the young girl from demonic possession.

The film’s emotional weight, grounded performances, and meticulous direction helped elevate it beyond traditional horror fare. Burstyn, Blair, von Sydow, Miller, and Lee J. Cobb (as Lieutenant Kinderman) deliver performances that remain iconic decades later. Friedkin’s realistic filmmaking style, combined with Dick Smith’s groundbreaking makeup effects and a haunting score featuring Mike Oldfield’s “Tubular Bells,” creates an experience that continues to influence filmmakers around the world.

The Sequels

The success of the original film naturally led to numerous follow-ups. Although few achieved the same critical acclaim. Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977) was met with overwhelmingly negative reviews. It remains one of the franchise’s most panned entries. By contrast, The Exorcist III (1990), written and directed by Blatty and adapted from his novel Legion, has undergone a significant critical reappraisal over the years. It’s now considered by many horror fans to be an underrated sequel. It also has, quite possibly, the greatest ‘jump scare’ in film history.

The franchise later explored Father Merrin’s early encounters with demonic forces through two separate prequels. Exorcist: The Beginning (2004), directed by Renny Harlin, and Dominion: Prequel to The Exorcist (2005), directed by Paul Schrader, told similar stories but reflected very different creative visions after both productions underwent an unusual behind-the-scenes overhaul.

In 2016, the property expanded to television with The Exorcist series on Fox. Starring Alfonso Herrera, Ben Daniels, Geena Davis, and later John Cho, the show earned praise for respecting the original film while introducing new characters and storylines. Although it lasted only two seasons, many fans viewed it as one of the strongest continuations of the franchise.

Most recently, Universal Pictures and Blumhouse launched a new trilogy beginning with The Exorcist: Believer (2023). Despite featuring the return of original star Ellen Burstyn (and a poignant Linda Blair cameo), the film received mixed-to-negative reviews from critics and a lukewarm audience response. Plans for the remainder of that trilogy were subsequently reworked as the studio reconsidered the franchise’s direction.

What’s Next?

The next chapter in the franchise, The Exorcist: Martyrs, is now scheduled to arrive in theaters on March 5, 2027. Rather than continuing the story established in The Exorcist: Believer, the upcoming film is expected to serve as a fresh creative direction for the series. Acclaimed filmmaker Mike Flanagan (Doctor Sleep, The Haunting of Hill House) has been attached to write, direct, and produce the project, with Universal Pictures distributing the film and Blumhouse producing alongside Morgan Creek Entertainment.

Flanagan has built a strong reputation within modern horror through projects such as Oculus, Doctor Sleep, The Haunting of Hill House, Midnight Mass, and The Fall of the House of Usher. His ability to blend emotional storytelling with supernatural horror has made him a popular choice among longtime fans of The Exorcist. Flanagan has stated that he intends to create a new story rather than simply revisit familiar material.

While most of the plot details remain under wraps, the story focuses on a rookie detective trying to prove her worth and finding herself immersed in an unimaginable evil that shakes everything she believes in. The film stars Scarlett Johansson, Diane Lane, Jacobi Jupe, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Laurence Fishburne. Flanagan has described the project as an opportunity to make what he hopes will be the scariest film of his career while honoring the themes and emotional depth that made the 1973 classic so enduring.

Conclusion

More than 50 years after it forever changed horror cinema, The Exorcist remains one of the genre’s defining achievements. Its influence can still be felt across film and television, while its unforgettable characters, themes, and imagery continue to resonate with new generations of audiences. Although the franchise has experienced varying levels of success through its sequels, prequels, and television adaptations, interest in the series has never fully disappeared.

The upcoming 2027 film represents another opportunity to expand one of horror’s most iconic franchises. With Mike Flanagan at the helm and a promise of a fresh creative approach, expectations are understandably high as fans wait to learn more about the cast, story, and how the new film will fit within the larger Exorcist legacy. Whether it ultimately joins the original as a landmark entry or charts its own path, horror fans will be watching closely as The Exorcist prepares to return to the big screen once again.