The legacy of 1973's The Exorcist is one many "scary movies" can only aspire to. It was the first horror film to receive an Oscar nomination for Best Picture (it also won Best Adapted Screenplay). The franchise potential was clear to studio heads as soon as paychecks started rolling in. But after a slew of disappointing sequels, there hasn't been a new Exorcist film in more than 15 years, but that has now changed and Universal's Exorcist sequel will see Ellen Burstyn reprise her role from the original film.
Last year's announcement of a planned reboot of The Exorcist led to mixed reactions from horror fans. Some thought the original was fine as it was, while others thought a modern revamp would only extend its legacy. In December, Blumhouse revealed the "reboot" was actually a direct sequel to the original film, leading to even more debate. However, with David Gordon Green (the director of 2018's Halloween) signing on to the project, fans became nervously excited. Recently, new info has come out on the film, its stars, and the future of the franchise as a whole.
Universal will release the sequel to The Exorcist in theaters on October 13, 2023. Blumhouse will produce the film with Morgan Creek (the company that owns film and TV rights to the Exorcist series). It'll be the first film in a new trilogy that continues the story of the 1973 original in the present day. In terms of star power, Hamilton's Leslie Odom Jr. will play a key role in the series. In the original film, Burstyn played Chris MacNeil (whose daughter, Regan, was a victim of demonic possession). Though it's been almost half a century since the film first came out, her career has managed to keep up. She recently appeared in the Netflix drama Pieces of a Woman to critical acclaim.
With Burstyn returning to her role for a trilogy of sequels, this is starting to sound like the Halloween reboot. Also helmed by Gordon Green, the Halloween reboot discarded the continuity of the entire franchise, with the exception of the original, and saw Jamie Lee Curtis reprise her role as Laurie Strode. With both having the same director, many believe that the Exorcist franchise will try to ride on Halloween's coattails.
That's a valid concern, but hopefully, Blumhouse will address it by making the new Exorcist films as effortlessly terrifying as the original. With Burstyn returning to her famous role, there's at least one reason to see the next chapter of The Exorcist. Until then, Fox's The Exorcist TV series makes for a binge-worthy substitute.
The untitled sequel to The Exorcist comes out in theaters on October 13, 2023.
Source: Entertainment Weekly