Director Greg McLean is diving into biblical horror with a brutal new supernatural thriller titled The First Exorcist, and the film has officially cast Josh Heuston and Ryan Corr in leading roles.

Josh Heuston, recently seen in , stars alongside Ryan Corr, who previously appeared in .

Written and directed by McLean, the film pulls inspiration from one of the darkest and most violent stories found in the Gospels.

The story follows Alexios, a respected husband and father whose body and mind become consumed by a legion of demons. As his terrifying possession worsens and fear spreads through the village, a mysterious young preacher named Jesus arrives while fleeing Roman authorities.

According to the synopsis, he may be the only person capable of confronting the ancient evil tormenting Alexios — leading to what becomes known as the first exorcism in history: the Miracle of the Swine.

Described as The Witch meets , the film promises a dark supernatural confrontation filled with demonic terror, violence, and religious mythology.

“This is a unique and powerful tale of faith, but it is also the original horror event,” McLean said in a statement. “A legion of demons, a man beyond saving, and one encounter that changes everything.”

The First Exorcist is being produced by Greg McLean and Mark Fennessy through Helium Pictures. Upgrade will launch international sales for the project at the Cannes Film Market, with production expected to begin later this year.

McLean also recently produced Wolf Creek Legacy, which is set for a wide theatrical release in North America through Cineverse and Bloody Disgusting.