Scarlett Johansson goes makeup-free as she joins Chiwetel Ejiofor on the set of The Exorcist reboot for the first time

Horror fans have been given their first glimpse of The Exorcist reboot, as stars Scarlett Johansson and Chiwetel Ejiofor were spotted filming the project on Tuesday in New York City.

The first photos from the set of the highly-anticipated horror film see Scarlett, 41, ditching her usual Hollywood glam to go make-up free, showcasing her natural beauty.

The actress flashed a winning smile in between shooting scenes outside what appeared to be a crime scene, surrounded by extras decked out in police uniforms, NYPD branded vehicles and yellow caution tape.

Scarlett sported noticeably longer blonde locks for the role, cutting a casual figure in jeans, trainers and a button-up shirt, while keeping warm in a plaid jacket.

She was seen looking worried as she filmed scenes with co-star Chiwetel, 48, who wore a grey tracksuit under a long grey coat.

Their characters appeared to be engaged in a tense conversation as they descended down an outdoor stairwell.

The new film, written, directed and produced by horror maestro Mike Flanagan, is said to be a 'fresh, bold' update on the original and a 'radical new take'. 

Scarlett has been said to be leading the film as a mother facing a chilling supernatural force, while Jacobi Jupe - best known for playing the titular role in award-winning film Hamnet - plays her son.

While the rest of the cast's roles have yet to be revealed, sources say Chiwetel will be playing an ex-con turned priest.

The two stars were also seen filming with Rahul Kohli and Sasha Calle on the set, who were announced to be joining the cast earlier this month.

Though their characters have also been kept under wraps so far, Rahul could be seen sporting a police-issued bulletproof vest, while Sasha noticeably wore a police badge on her belt.

The star-studded cast for the reboot is rounded out by heavy-hitters John Leguizamo, Laurence Fishburne, and Diane Lane, as well as frequent Mike Flanagan collaborators, Carla Gugino and Kate Siegel.

It marks the seventh instalment of the Exorcist franchise, coming five decades after the original film, which became a cultural phenomenon - grossing $441 million (£320million) worldwide and earning 10 Oscar nominations.

The 1973 film sees Ellen Burstyn plays concerned mother Chris MacNeil, who enlists the help of two priests to exorcise a demon, named Pazuzu, from her 12-year-old daughter Regan, played by Linda Blair. 

It was based on a book of the same name by William Peter Blatty – who also adapted it for screen himself.

However, the new project has been described as 'not a remake nor a sequel,' but rather is set in the same 'universe.'

It comes after plans for a trilogy of Exorcist films, beginning with 2023's The Exorcist: Believer and set to be followed by The Exorcist: Deceiver, were scrapped following the negative reception to Believer when it was released.

The new Exorcist film is yet untitled, but has been announced to be set to hit theaters on March 12, 2027.

While The Exorcist is lauded as one of the most cultural significant films ever made, it is also famed for the litany of disasters that occurred during production.

An unexplained fire at one point burnt down most of the set — delaying filming by six weeks — but curiously spared the bedroom where Regan endures her demonic possession.

Meanwhile both Linda and Ellen suffered painful back injuries during filming. Their real screams of pain can be heard in the film.

In addition to the many controversies that have plagued The Exorcist, some claim a series of fatal events associated with the film's cast amounts to a 'curse'.

Actress Vasiliki Maliaros who played the mother of Father Damian Karras died during the post-production stage of the film. She was 89 years old and died from natural causes.   

However, the cast were no doubt shocked by the death of Irish actor Jack MacGowran who played Burke Denning, a friend of Regan's mother.

He died aged 52, due to complications from influenza, leaving behind a wife and daughter. 

His death was one of nine associated with the film, which led to demands for the set to be exorcised.  

Seven others associated with the cast and crew — including close family members of the stars — died of natural or unexplained causes before the film's release, including Linda's grandfather who passed away during the first week of production. 

Others, such as Lee J. Cobb, who played a police detective, died within a few years of the film's release.

Meanwhile others suffered near death experiences. The son of Jason Miller, who played Father Karras, was also nearly killed in a motorcycle accident during filming.

The Exorcist's makers were also hit by claims that the film contained subliminal messages.

A white face which briefly flashed on screen during a dream sequence in the film is one example, but Friedkin later said it was not meant to be fully detected by the audience.

He said: 'You couldn't catch it before VHS. And now you can stop the DVD and stare at it.' 

Friedkin did also add 'disturbing industrial sounds', along with the buzzing of bees, to heighten fear among those watching.

The scenes of Regan in bed were also filmed inside a large freezer so that the her breath and that of the other actors could be seen on camera.

Shortly after the film was released, Friedkin said: 'We were plagued by strange and sinister things from the beginning.'

He said that when he looked at the uncut footage during production, 'strange images and visions that were never planned showed up on the film'.

'There are double exposures in the little girl's face at the end of one reel that are unbelievable. I had to do a tremendous amount of re-shooting.

'The special effects caused any number of injuries to the actors… the whole thing was a nightmare,' he added. 

Adding more than a little hellfire to the controversy that raged around The Exorcist was the fact that it was based on a true story.

A 13-year-old boy from Baltimore, identified only as Roland Doe, who had experimented with a ouija board, was exorcised by two priests in the late 1940s.

Doe had an aversion to anything sacred, spoke in a guttural voice and was even able to curse priests in perfect Latin. They believed him to be demonically possessed.

The first attempt to banish the boy's demons was abandoned after five nights when he slashed the senior priest down the arm with a bedspring coil, maiming him.

For years the Catholic Church banned the priests from speaking about the case, but author Blatty managed to unearth enough details about the story to write his 1971 book, swapping Roland to be a girl and adding unforgettable touches such as crawling along the ceiling and the head-spinning.

However, the hype around the film helped to fuel incredible box office returns and it became the first horror film to be nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars.

When adjusted for today's prices, the film has grossed more than $1billion (£720million).