Scarlett Johansson’s casting in The Exorcist: Martyrs isn’t just a star power play — it’s a bet on legacy. The film, set for release on March 12, 2027, aims to topple the 1973 original’s North American box office record of $233 million, including re-releases. That’s not a stretch. It’s a target. And it’s one that hinges less on Johansson’s name and more on whether audiences still believe in the franchise’s ability to scare. The original didn’t even open internationally, its success was built on a single market, a cultural moment. Now, nearly five decades later, the franchise is back with an ensemble led by Johansson, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Diane Lane, and Laurence Fishburne. Mike Flanagan’s direction promises a darker, more personal take: a mother and cop, haunted by a past she thought buried, now facing a demonic force targeting her son. The plot echoes the original’s core fear. Evil doesn’t stay dead. But can it sell tickets? The 1973 film’s $193 million domestic run remains unmatched. To beat it, Martyrs needs more than a trailer. It needs word-of-mouth that lingers. And it needs a theatrical window where people still go to be scared. The real question isn’t whether Johansson will draw crowds. It’s whether the world still believes in exorcisms, or if we’ve moved on to other kinds of demons.