Mike Flanagan In Talks To Direct Universal’s Next Exorcist Film

Universal’s Exorcist requel trilogy just got a boost, with Mike Flanagan in talks to direct the next film. Deadline reports that Flanagan (Doctor Sleep, The Haunting of Hill House) is in discussions to take on the follow-up film to last year’s Exorcist: Believer for Universal and Blumhouse.

If Flanagan does sign on, he would be taking over from David Gordon Green who stepped back from directing the second film back in January. Green co-wrote and directed Exorcist: Believer but had to step back from the follow-up, which was last reported as being titled Exorcist: Deceiver, due to his commitments to the Ben Stiller movie Nutcrackers and The Righteous Gemstones season four.

Exorcist: Believer grossed $136.2 million at the box office despite being panned by critics and many fans. The finances here are somewhat complex, as the follow-up is set to be the second film in a trilogy that Universal and Blumhouse paid a total of $400 million for the rights to make (in addition to any production budget).

In addition to Doctor Sleep and The Haunting of Hill House, Flanagan has a resume that includes Gerald’s Game, Oculus, The Haunting of Bly Manor, The Fall of the House of Usher, and Midnight Mass. He has some experience turning troubled franchises around, directing Ouija: Origin of Evil which was a hit and praised by critics and fans after Ouija was heavily panned (but also successful financially).