The cast for Mike Flanagan’s upcoming entry in The Exorcist franchise continues to grow, with John Leguizamo (Land of the Dead, John Wick) officially joining the project, according to reports.

The Emmy-winning actor joins a stacked cast that already includes Scarlett Johansson (The Avengers), Jacobi Jupe (Hamnet), Diane Lane (Unfaithful), Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave), and Sasha Calle (The Flash).

While plot details remain tightly under wraps, the film will tell an entirely new story set within The Exorcist universe. The project is not a remake of William Friedkin’s legendary 1973 horror classic, nor is it connected to 2023’s The Exorcist: Believer.

Johansson is expected to play a mother, with Jupe portraying her son. According to reports, Leguizamo may take on an antagonist role, though details about his character have not been confirmed.

Flanagan, known for acclaimed horror projects like “The Haunting of Hill House” and Doctor Sleep, will write and direct the film. He also produces through Red Room Pictures, alongside Jason Blum for Blumhouse-Atomic Monster and David Robinson for Morgan Creek Entertainment.

Executive producers include Alexandra Magistro for Red Room Pictures and Ryan Turek for Blumhouse.

Flanagan previously shared his ambitions for the project, saying the film will aim to take the franchise in a bold new direction while respecting its legacy.

“This is an opportunity to do something that I believe has never been done within the franchise—something that honors what came before it but isn’t built on nostalgia,” Flanagan said. “I really just saw an opportunity to make the scariest movie I’ve ever made. I know expectations are high. No one’s more intimidated than I am.”

Production on the film is set to begin next week in New York City, with Universal Pictures currently planning a theatrical release on March 12, 2027.

Stay tuned to Gore Culture for more updates as Mike Flanagan’s terrifying new chapter in The Exorcist universe continues to take shape.