Mike Flanagan signs to executive produce found footage film that sounds terrifying (and may direct a BIG sequel)!

Mike Flanagan is widely considered one of the very best modern horror filmmakers, and has built quite a large fanbase. Now his fans (AKA "Fanagans") should be delighted to hear two pretty major announcements regarding one confirmed and one potential new horror project.

Flanagan’s first feature film was 2011’s Absentia, which he wrote, directed and edited. It was partly crowdfunded via Kickstarter, and won multiple awards on the film festival circuit, along with Fangoria’s award for Best Limited Release/Direct-to-Video Film in 2013.

In the coming years, he brought us Oculus, Hush. Before I Wake, Ouija: Origin of Evil (a sequel that was far superior to its source film Ouija), Gerald’s Game and Doctor Sleep. Flanagan served as writer, director and editor for all of these film titles.

But Flanagan really hit big in 2018 with his Netflix series adaptation of Shirley Jackson’s iconic horror novel The Haunting of Hill House. Viewers couldn’t get enough of the limited series, which was not a 100% faithful adaptation. But despite its variances from the original story, he paid homage to Jackson’s creation, using character’s names and even some quotes and scenes, and it had Flanagan's trademark emotional stamp in both story and characters.

He followed The Haunting of Hill House with The Haunting of Bly Manor, Midnight Mass, The Midnight Club and The Fall of the House of Usher before parting ways with Netflix. His next film is The Life of Chuck, his third Stephen King adaptation. The Life of Chuck is expected to release on Amazon Prime Video. He is also said to be working on an adaptation of another Stephen King book, The Dark Tower.

So what are the upcoming films in Mike Flanagan's future?

Just this week, it was announced that Flanagan would serve as Executive Producer for a found footage film called Shelby Oaks, which will be written and directed by Chris Stuckmann. The film is being funded by Kickstarter, and involves some paranormal investigators called the Paranormal Paranoids, who go missing. Twelve years after the disappearance of the team, Mia goes in search of her sister Riley, who was the lead investigator.

Flanagan declared that it has been “inspiring to watch Chris working toward his dreams”, and said that it reminded him of his own early experiences as a horror creator. Also on board are Flanagan’s producing partners Melinda Nishioka and Trevor Macy.

News item #2: According to Deadline, Mike Flanagan is currently discussing the possibility of directing Blumhouse and Universal Pictures’ next sequel to The Exorcist. The Exorcist: Believer was released last year, but did not perform well at the box office, and director David Gordon Green excused himself from the remaining two films in the planned trilogy.

There is also the possibility (wishful thinking) that he may write or co-write said sequel as well – something that would probably be very helpful, since Mike Flanagan always manages to perfectly blend horror and heart in all of his projects.

It’s probably not every horror fan’s cup of tea, but I find that actually caring about the characters makes a film more frightening, since I feel personally invested in their safety and well-being. Finger crossed that this speculation actually comes to fruition, and bonus points if he casts his "reccuring actors" such as Henry Thomas, Kate Siegel, etc.!