Scarlett Johansson was captured filming dramatic sequences for the highly anticipated reboot of The Exorcist in New York City on Thursday. The 41-year-old actress, known for her role in Black Widow, was seen alongside two stunt doubles, all dressed in matching red sweaters and pink pyjama bottoms for a scene that involved her character running through the streets while brandishing a gun.
Behind the Scenes of the Horror Remake
Johansson embraced a more natural look for the shoot, going makeup-free with her blonde hair styled into a long braid, a departure from her usual Hollywood glamour. In the filmed moment, she emerged from a house appearing terrified, gun in hand, before giving chase. Between takes, she engaged with the crew to ensure everything was perfectly aligned before cameras rolled.
Star-Studded Cast and Production Details
British actor Chiwetel Ejiofor, 48, filmed his own intense scene, strapped to a stretcher and carried to an ambulance by actors dressed as paramedics. Sources indicate Ejiofor will portray an ex-con turned priest in the film. The cast also includes Rahul Kohli, seen in a police-issued bulletproof vest, and Sasha Calle, wearing a police badge, though their specific roles remain undisclosed.
The reboot, written, directed, and produced by horror maestro Mike Flanagan, is described as a fresh, bold update and a radical new take on the original. It is not a direct remake or sequel but exists within the same universe. Johansson leads as a mother confronting a supernatural force, with Jacobi Jupe playing her son. The ensemble cast features heavyweights like John Leguizamo, Laurence Fishburne, Diane Lane, Carla Gugino, and Kate Siegel.
Legacy and Controversies of The Exorcist Franchise
This marks the seventh instalment in The Exorcist franchise, arriving five decades after the 1973 original, which grossed $441 million worldwide and earned ten Oscar nominations. The classic film, based on William Peter Blatty's novel, starred Ellen Burstyn as a mother seeking priests to exorcise a demon from her daughter, played by Linda Blair.
The production of the original was plagued by numerous incidents, including an unexplained fire that destroyed much of the set, back injuries sustained by Burstyn and Blair, and a series of deaths among cast and crew that fueled rumors of a curse. Additionally, director William Friedkin incorporated subliminal elements and disturbing sounds to heighten fear, and scenes were filmed in a freezer to capture visible breath.
Upcoming Release and Historical Context
The new Exorcist film, yet untitled, is scheduled for release on March 12, 2027. It follows the cancellation of a planned trilogy after the negative reception of 2023's The Exorcist: Believer. The original story was inspired by the true case of a 13-year-old boy from Baltimore who underwent exorcism in the 1940s after experimenting with a ouija board, with Blatty adapting it into a novel and later the iconic film.
Despite its controversies, The Exorcist remains a cultural phenomenon, with adjusted earnings exceeding $1 billion in today's prices and being the first horror film nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars. The reboot aims to build on this legacy with a modern twist and a formidable cast.
