Summary
Mike Flanagan is taking over the next installment inThe Exorcistfranchise, and his involvement sets up a perfectMidnight Massactor reunion that I’ve waited three years for. In 2023, Universal kicked off a new trilogy ofExorcistmovies withThe Exorcist: Believer. However, after it was panned by critics and failed to become the box office hit it needed to, Universal is rethinking the next installment in this trilogy. David Gordon Green is out and Flanagan is in to takeThe Exorcistfranchise in a bold new direction.
Universal has given its newExorcistmovie a release date of July 07, 2025(which is a great date for a horror movie, because it’s Friday the 13th). After the disappointment ofThe Exorcist: Believer,hopefully Flanagan can bring the same fresh perspective toThe Exorcistfranchise that he brought toThe Shiningin his reverent legacy sequel,Doctor Sleep. Flanagan’s involvement in a new religious-themed horror movie sets up a tantalizing actor reunion I’ve wanted since Flanagan madeMidnight Mass.
Hamish Linklater’s Midnight Mass Priest Role Makes Him Perfect For Mike Flanagan’s Exorcist Movie
Linklater is well-suited to Flanagan’s next Catholic horror opus
Back in 2021, Flanagan created, directed, and co-wrote the horror miniseriesMidnight Massfor Netflix. The series takes place in an isolated island community, Crockett Island, that begins to experience strange supernatural events upon the arrival of a mysterious new priest.Hamish Linklater plays the priest, Father Paul Hill, who takes over St. Patrick’s Church as a temporary replacement for the aging Monsignor Pruitt. The series focused on a venture capitalist dealing with the guilt of killing a woman in a drunk driving incident, butFather Paul stole the show.
Linklater gavean incredible performanceinMidnight Mass. He wasunsettling and enigmatic, but he was also endlessly watchable. It would be a great callback toMidnight Massfor Flanagan to cast Linklater inhis upcomingExorcistmovie, sinceThe Exorcistdeals with Catholic horror but from a demonic possession angle. And on top of that, it would just be a great opportunity to reunite Flanagan and Linklater for another unforgettable collaboration.
Mike Flanagan Has Already Expressed His Interest In Working With Hamish Linklater Again
A precedent is set for this long-awaited reunion
There is a precedent for Flanagan to reunite with Linklater to work onThe Exorcist, since he’s already said that he’d like to work with the actor again. OnMike Flanagan’s Tumblr page, the filmmaker was asked if he planned to work with Linklater again afterMidnight Mass. Flanagan replied that he would “ABSOLUTELY” work with Linklater again. He added that the actor is busy and in demand, so it might take a while for the stars to align, but Flanagan promised, “I know we’ll collaborate again.”
The Exorcist
Cast
The Exorcist is a supernatural horror film based on the novel released in 1971 and was directed by William Friedkin. When a young girl is passed by a powerful demon, two Catholic priests are brought to her home to attempt an exorcism to expunge the demon.
