Mike Flanagan reveals what slasher franchise he would like to direct after signing on to The Exorcist. One of the biggest names in horror, Flanagan is known for writing and directing the acclaimed films Absentia, Oculus, Hush, Before I Wake, Ouija: Origin of Evil, Gerald’s Game, and Doctor Sleep – and creating the Netflix horror series The Haunting of Hill House, Midnight Mass, and The Fall of the House of Usher. Recently, it was announced that Flanagan has signed on to direct a new Exorcist movie after David Gordon Green’s The Exorcist: Believer was a critical disaster.

Now, after recently signing on to The Exorcist, Mike Flanagan has revealed what slasher franchise he would like to direct next – A Nightmare on Elm Street.

On X, formerly Twitter, the filmmaker responded, “A guy can dream” to a Nightmare on Elm Street fan poster featuring Freddy Kreuger’s face and Flanagan’s name.

What Would Mike Flanagan’s Nightmare On Elm Street Be Like?

Like His Exorcist Movie, It Could Be A “Radical New Take”

Flanagan is officially directing a new Exorcist movie, which is being called a “radical new take” on the franchise and was recently dated for a release on March 13, 2026, which is a Friday the 13th. As a filmmaker, Flanagan is known for his ability to explore complex themes within the horror genre and create deeply unsettling atmospheres, so his new Exorcist movie will likely feature his signature blend of psychological horror and character-driven storytelling. His fresh narrative twist could focus on the psychological and emotional turmoil of possession and exorcism.

As a straight slasher, Nightmare on Elm Street may fall a little out of Flanagan’s wheelhouse. However, the franchise’s focus on the supernatural is more up Flanagan’s alley. If he were to make a Nightmare on Elm Street movie, it would likely emphasize the surreal and psychological aspects of dreams and nightmares, delving deeper into the psyche of both Freddy Krueger and his victims, exploring their fears and traumas in a more profound way.

The Nightmare on Elm Street franchise hasn’t had a new installment since 2010, and is begging to be revitalized by a modern filmmaker like Flanagan. He’s already proven his ability to revitalize horror franchises when he made Ouija: Origin of Evil, a prequel to the 2014 film Ouija which improved upon the original. No matter if it’s The Exorcist or A Nightmare on Elm Street, Mike Flanagan is the guy to revitalize the horror franchises and bring them back to relevance.

Source: Mike Flanagan/X