The air in the theater was thick with anticipation. As the lights dimmed, a collective breath was held, everyone ready to be terrified. But what if the real horror wasn’t just on the screen, but also on your calendar?
Come 2027, two titans of terror—The Exorcist and Paranormal Activity—will claw their way back into cinemas, releasing only months apart.
Return to Rituals: Flanagan’s Fresh Take on a Familiar Evil
I remember seeing the original Exorcist on a grainy VHS tape as a kid; that movie scarred me for life. Now, Universal is betting on director Mike Flanagan to resurrect the franchise on March 13, 2027. Flanagan, known for his deft hand with horror (The Haunting of Hill House, Doctor Sleep), will direct Scarlett Johansson and Jacobi Jupe in what’s being called a “radical new take.”
The last attempt to revive the series, 2023’s The Exorcist: Believer, faltered despite initial plans for a trilogy. Flanagan’s film will exist within the same continuity as Believer and the original 1973 masterpiece but won’t directly continue the previous film’s storyline.
What made the original ‘Exorcist’ so scary?
The original Exorcist wasn’t just about demonic possession; it tapped into primal fears of helplessness and the corruption of innocence. The film’s unflinching portrayal of Regan’s suffering, coupled with the stark realism of William Friedkin’s direction, created an atmosphere of dread that lingered long after the credits rolled.
From Found Footage to Fresh Fears: ‘Paranormal Activity’ Returns
I recall the first Paranormal Activity film being a cultural phenomenon; it was the movie that proved low-budget found-footage could deliver genuine scares, catapulting the series into a money-printing machine. On May 21, 2027, Paramount will release the eighth installment in the Paranormal Activity series.
Details are scant, but Ian Tuason, whose podcast horror film undertone arrives this March, will direct. Both Paranormal Activity and Exorcist share a common thread: production by Jason Blum (Blumhouse) and James Wan (Atomic Monster). Consider this their shared universe of scares; a place where franchises are not so much films, but terrifying products.
How does James Wan influence modern horror?
James Wan’s influence is like a dark, creeping vine, winding its way through modern horror. From the inventive scares of Saw to the atmospheric dread of The Conjuring, Wan has consistently redefined the genre. His emphasis on character development, combined with his mastery of suspense, has made him a key figure in contemporary horror cinema.
Will these new horror movies be successful?
Success hinges on execution. The Exorcist reboot faces the challenge of honoring a classic while bringing something new to the table. For Paranormal Activity, the key will be recapturing the raw, visceral terror of the original while avoiding the pitfalls of franchise fatigue. Will the horror renaissance continue, or will these films be dead on arrival?
So, mark your calendars: a new Exorcist on March 13, 2027, and a new Paranormal Activity on May 21 of the same year. This is a spring of screams. Will they deliver fresh nightmares, or simply rehash old terrors?