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Head-turning time? Alasdair Stuart considers the latest news from the Exorcist franchise…

There are certain names that have instant cachet. ‘The Exorcist’ is one. From the original novel to the iconic movie, remarkable second sequel and much-missed TV show, The Exorcist is one of those stories that is often built on and often brilliant. Not always by any means but when it works, it really, really works.

Mike Flanagan is another of those names. Flanagan is one of the most prolific horror creators of the modern era and by far one of the most consistent. Right now, he’s known more for his Stephen King adaptation work but Flanagan’s original work, especially Oculus, is stunningly good in its own right. As well as developing a TV version of Carrie, the Stephen King novel, Flanagan is also writing and directing the new movie and his star is a third name with her own instant cachet, Scarlett Johansson.

Fresh off the surprisingly fun Jurassic World: Rebirth (which is also getting a sequel), Johansson has a career grounded in genre (if you’ve never seen it and don’t hate spiders, run do not walk, to see Eight-Legged Freaks) as well as more mainstream work. Her work with Wes Anderson, including a great cameo in the recent The Phoenician Scheme is fun but if you’re looking for the hidden gem in her recent career, it’s Fly Me To The Moon. A cheerful, pseudo-heist rom-com about the grifter hired to film the ‘back up’ Moon landing, it’s on AppleTV and an absolute joy. Likewise, her wildly different, and heartrending work on Jojo Rabbit. Basically, Johansson has the range, genre savvy and intelligence to ground a movie like this even if it wasn’t being written and directed by possibly the best horror film-maker alive who isn’t Guillermo del Toro. To be clear, this one is definitely a tough ask. But if anyone can do it, it’s a team like this. Consider us officially excited.