The first trailer for "The Exorcist: Martyrs" premiered October 9, 2026, at Blumhouse's BlumFest panel during New York Comic Con, and it centers on Scarlett Johansson as an NYPD detective hunting a copycat killer. Despite the "reboot" label attached to early coverage, writer-director Mike Flanagan has said the film is not a remake, reboot, or sequel to 2023's "The Exorcist: Believer," according to Dread Central's trailer breakdown. The footage lays out a procedural horror story: a detective who stopped a satanic killer thirteen years ago now faces a new one copying his methods. Here's what the trailer actually shows, who's in it, and when you can see the finished film.
Table of Contents
- What happens in the trailer
- Who else is in the cast?
- Is this really a reboot, or something else?
- What's the Kinderman connection fans spotted?
- Who's behind the film, and when does it come out?
- Frequently Asked Questions
What happens in the trailer
Johansson plays Julie Miller, an NYPD detective who ended the killing spree of Father Sunday, a satanic serial killer played by John Leguizamo, thirteen years before the story's present day, according to SlashFilm's coverage of the trailer. The footage opens with Miller present for Father Sunday's execution.
The execution does not go as planned. Afterward, a new killer begins writing Miller's name in blood at a crime scene inside a church crypt, a detail confirmed by Dread Central's breakdown of the footage. That image sets up the film's central question: whether the new killer is a copycat, a disciple, or something that survived Father Sunday's death.
Who else is in the cast?
Beyond Johansson and Leguizamo, the trailer and casting reports confirm a deep supporting lineup: Chiwetel Ejiofor as a former prison chaplain, Sasha Calle as a rookie detective, plus Diane Lane, Laurence Fishburne, and Jacobi Jupe, according to The Wrap's report on the film's release date. Ejiofor's chaplain role and Calle's rookie detective suggest the film splits its investigation between institutional faith and street-level policing, mirroring Miller's own history with Father Sunday. That size of cast, combined with the crime-scene structure revealed in the trailer, points to a story built around multiple investigators converging on one killer rather than a single-protagonist chase.
Is this really a reboot, or something else?
The headline shorthand calling this a "reboot" doesn't match what Flanagan has said about the project. He has stated directly that "The Exorcist: Martyrs" is not a remake, not a reboot, and not a sequel to 2023's "The Exorcist: Believer," per Dread Central and SlashFilm's reporting.
Instead, critics who saw the footage compared its tone to detective-driven thrillers like "Se7en" and "The Silence of the Lambs" rather than to prior "Exorcist" films. That distinction matters for anyone expecting a direct continuation of the franchise's possession mythology. The trailer's emphasis on police procedure, crime scenes, and a detective's personal history with a killer places "Martyrs" closer to a horror-tinged crime thriller than to a traditional exorcism sequel.
What's the Kinderman connection fans spotted?
Fans combing through the trailer noticed the surname "Kinderman" on Julie Miller's police badge, which sparked unconfirmed speculation that Miller is the daughter of Lieutenant William Kinderman, the character George C. Scott played in "The Exorcist III," according to Dread Central's report on the fan theory.
Neither Flanagan nor the studio has confirmed the connection, so it remains a fan reading of a single badge detail rather than a stated plot point. If accurate, the link would tie Miller's family history to the franchise's past without making the film itself a direct sequel, consistent with Flanagan's description of "Martyrs" as its own story.
Who's behind the film, and when does it come out?
"The Exorcist: Martyrs" is produced by Jason Blum and David Robinson through Blumhouse, Atomic Monster, and Morgan Creek Entertainment, in association with Flanagan's Red Room Pictures, with Universal Pictures distributing, according to The Wrap's report on the production. Principal photography wrapped on June 11, 2026, after which the film moved into post-production ahead of October's trailer debut, per 3dvf's coverage of the wrap.
Universal originally dated the film for March 13, 2026, then pulled it from the schedule before resetting the U.S. theatrical release to March 12, 2027, according to The Wrap's release-date report. That nearly year-long shift gave the production extra time in post, which likely explains the gap between the June wrap and the October trailer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is "The Exorcist: Martyrs" connected to "The Exorcist III"?
Only through an unconfirmed fan theory. Spotting "Kinderman" on Julie Miller's badge led fans to speculate she's related to Lieutenant William Kinderman from "The Exorcist III," but neither Flanagan nor the studio has confirmed it.
Does "The Exorcist: Martyrs" continue the story from "The Exorcist: Believer"?
No. Flanagan has said it's not a sequel to "Believer," nor a remake or reboot of the franchise.
When does "The Exorcist: Martyrs" come out?
Universal has set the U.S. theatrical release for March 12, 2027, after originally dating it for March 2026 and then pulling it from the calendar.