- Primary Subject: Legendary actress Ellen Burstyn's reaction to Mike Flanagan's The Exorcist: Martyrs.
- Key Update: Original Exorcist star Ellen Burstyn expressed strong franchise fatigue regarding Mike Flanagan's upcoming entry, stating, "Isn't there enough already of the Exorcist thing? It's enough already."
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: October 23, 2026
- Quick Answer: Original star Ellen Burstyn dismissed Mike Flanagan's The Exorcist: Martyrs, calling for an end to constant franchise entries while Flanagan prepares his standalone sequel for 2027.
William Friedkin's 1973 masterpiece The Exorcist remains one of the most terrifying horror films ever made. After Universal and Blumhouse's recent attempts to reboot the property, acclaimed filmmaker Mike Flanagan (The Haunting of Hill House, Doctor Sleep) has taken the helm for a brand-new original story set within its universe.
However, as the upcoming installment builds its momentum, original star Ellen Burstyn has offered a brutally candid assessment regarding the endless continuation of the demonic saga.
Exorcist Star Ellen Burstyn Weighs In on Mike Flanagan's Latest Entry
During a recent interview with Variety, 93-year-old Oscar winner Ellen Burstyn, who famously played Chris MacNeil in the 1973 original and reprised her role in 2023's The Exorcist: Believer, shared her unfiltered thoughts when asked about Mike Flanagan's upcoming project.
It had been over 53 years since Burstyn's Chris MacNeil was at the center of the sensation, and so she didn't hold back on her words when asked about her thoughts on Martyrs: "Isn't there enough already of the Exorcist thing? It's enough already."
Despite returning for Believer as a nod to legacy fans, it would seem that Burstyn's reaction means that the story has reached its natural peak. Could The Exorcist franchise officially end with Martyrs?
What Makes The Exorcist: Martyrs Different and How It Ties the Franchise
While The Exorcist: Believer was originally envisioned as the start of a direct trilogy, Universal and Blumhouse pushed in a different direction by bringing in Mike Flanagan to write and direct a brand-new story titled The Exorcist: Martyrs.
Instead of continuing the franchise from Believer as a starting point, Martyrs is another standalone story described as an introduction to a distinct set of key characters and terror that had never been explored before.
Martyrs follows an NYPD officer (played by Scarlett Johansson) whose son gets a target on his back by an ancient demonic force, forcing her to pair with two priests (Chiwetel Ejiofor and Laurence Fishburne) in a harrowing investigation that draws inspiration from The Exorcist III.
Featuring an all-star cast including Scarlett Johansson, Jacobi Jupe, Diane Lane, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Laurence Fishburne, Sasha Calle, and John Leguizamo, Martyrs embeds Flanagan's trademark horror dread into the evolving franchise.
The Exorcist: Martyrs is slated to premiere on March 12, 2027. Stay tuned!
Keep it locked on EpicStream, your go-to site for film, TV, and celebrity coverage!