Blumhouse-Atomic Monster Will Bring THE EXORCISM AT 1600 PENN to the Big Screen
Blumhouse and Atomic Monster are lining up another genre mashup that feels tailor-made for the current moment. The two horror powerhouses are developing a feature film adaptation of The Exorcism at 1600 Penn, the comic book series created and written by Hannah Rose May, and it’s an idea that leans hard into possession horror while planting its feet firmly in the real world.
Originally published by IDW Publishing, The Exorcism at 1600 Penn unfolds inside the most recognizable address in the United States. The White House becomes ground zero for a supernatural conflict, turning the seat of American power into a literal battleground between good and evil.
At the center of it all is the nation’s first female president, who’s already juggling political unrest, the looming threat of World War III, a relentless media cycle, and the realities of raising two teenagers. Then demons enter the picture, because of course they do.
The series features striking artwork by Vanesa Del Rey and has already expanded beyond its initial arc. A sequel, The Exorcism at Buckingham Palace, is currently being released, widening the scope of May’s possession-fueled political thriller.
On the film side, Jason Blum is producing for Blumhouse, with the studio’s EVP of feature development Ryan Turek executive producing alongside May and IDW Publishing CEO Davidi Jonas. Turek spoke about what pulled the studio toward the project in a statement to Deadline, saying:
“What immediately drew us to THE EXORCISM AT 1600 PENN was how grounded and urgent it feels. Hannah has created a story that fuses classic possession horror with contemporary political tension in a way that feels bold and deeply human.
“It is exactly the kind of material we look for when we think about expanding horror into new spaces, and we are excited to identify a filmmaker who can bring this world to the screen with the scale and perspective it deserves.”
For May, the partnership feels like a milestone moment. She shared her excitement about the adaptation, saying:
“Getting to work with Blumhouse to bring THE EXORCISM AT 1600 PENN to the big screen feels like a dream come true. Blumhouse has defined modern horror for a generation, and I could not be more excited to be working with them on this adaption. I am so grateful to my incredible partners at IDW for their tireless work to share this story with audiences around the world.”
May has been steadily carving out a name for herself as a creator focused on character-first genre stories. Beyond The Exorcism at 1600 Penn, her comics work includes Rogues’ Gallery for Image Comics and The Guy in the Chair for Dark Horse.
She’s also currently writing a prequel to Smile for IDW, director Parker Finn, and Paramount Pictures, which is set to publish in mid-February. On top of her writing career, May is also an actor, with on-screen appearances in Curb Your Enthusiasm and Ghosts.
As for Blumhouse-Atomic Monster, this adaptation joins a packed slate. The company is releasing The Mummy, directed by Lee Cronin, on April 17, followed by Insidious: The Bleeding World on August 21 and Other Mommy on October 9.
On the Atomic Monster side, Mortal Kombat II hits theaters via Warner Bros. on May 8. Meanwhile, Focus Features will release the Blumhouse-produced Obsession from Curry Barker on May 15.
With its mix of possession horror, political pressure, and very human stakes, The Exorcism at 1600 Penn feels like a good fit for Blumhouse’s brand of grounded genre filmmaking.
Watching demons tear through the White House while a president tries to hold the world together sounds like exactly the kind of chaos horror fans can get behind.