Scarlett Johansson Stars in Chilling First Teaser for The Exorcist: Martyrs

Scarlett Johansson is stepping into one of horror’s best franchises with The Exorcist: Martyrs. The 15-second preview introduces Johansson as NYPD homicide detective Julie Miller and hints at a case that goes beyond the natural.

The film is written and directed by Mike Flanagan, the filmmaker behind The Haunting of Hill House and Midnight Mass. Flanagan has taken a different route with this chapter of the franchise. Martyrs is a story on its own and not a continuation of 2023’s The Exorcist: Believer.

Johansson plays Julie Miller, a homicide detective and single mother raising her 12-year old son, Max, played by Jacobi Jupe. Her job affects her family life, with her mother, Mary, played by Diane Lane, helping care for Max.

Photo: Universal Pictures and Blumhouse

The case at the crux of the story begins with a serial killer known as Father Sunday, played by John Leguizamo. Julie apprehends him and is present when he is executed. However, his death does not end the killings. New murders emerge, and they appear to be connected to the brutal martyrdom of Catholic saints.

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Flanagan said the movie combines the investigation style of films such as Se7en and The Silence of the Lambs with the supernatural horror of The Exorcist. The investigation gradually forces Julie to confront the possibility that the evil behind the murders cannot be explained through ordinary means.

The teaser keeps much of that story hidden, but its imagery establishes the film’s dark atmosphere. Johansson’s character is shown dealing with an increasingly disturbing situation, while the presence of Father Sunday suggests his influence remains after his execution. The preview also hints at the threat surrounding Julie’s investigation. 

Chiwetel Ejiofor plays Father William, a former prison chaplain who presided over Father Sunday’s execution. According to Flanagan, the experience leaves Father William struggling with his faith. Laurence Fishburne also appears as another priest who becomes involved when the supernatural threat begins reaching Julie’s family.

Photo: Universal Pictures and Blumhouse

Sasha Calle plays fellow NYPD detective Gina Restrepo, who works alongside Julie as the investigation develops. The cast also includes Rahul Kohli, Hamish Linklater, Gil Bellows, Carl Lumbly, Robert Longstreet, Matt Biedel, Samantha Sloyan, Kate Siegel, John Gallagher Jr., Benjamin Pajak and Carla Gugino.

Flanagan  made it clear that he does not want Martyrs to simply recreate William Friedkin’s 1973 classic. He has cited William Peter Blatty’s Legion, the novel behind The Exorcist III, as an influence on the film.

The first full trailer of The Exorcist: Martyrs is scheduled to arrive on October 9. The film will be released in U.S. cinemas on March 12, 2027.