The horror classic of horror classics, The Exorcist is getting a reboot that will act as a direct sequel to the original film, with a script already written by the director of the similarly rebooted Halloween franchise.
Helmed by David Gordon Green, who performed a similar feat on 2018’s well-received Halloween with original star Jamie Lee Curtis, it’s been revealed that the script has now been completed, and that its sequel status will effectively retcon the events of the three sequels of one prequel that have been produced since the first film’s release (again, another neat mirror of the Halloween reboot).
“The Exorcist has been written,” the director revealed to Total Film. “That was one of my pandemic projects. It’s not inaccurate to say [that it will be a sequel to the original film].
“I like all the Exorcist movies,” he continued about a possible retconning of the franchise’s mythology. “And not only do I like them, I think they can all fall into the acceptable mythology for what I’m doing. It’s not like I’m saying, ‘Pretend that The Exorcist 2 never happened.’”
He also calls the project “another fun legacy to be a part of” and that “there was such a dramatic authenticity to what that original film is,” which sounds about right.
Originally released in 1973 and based on William Peter Blatty’s novel of the same name, The Exorcist followed two Catholic priests (Max Von Sydow and Jason Miller) who attempt to save the soul of Regan MacNeil (Linda Blair) who has become possessed by the demon Pazuzu.
Memorably controversial at the time and hailed as one of the most influential horror films of all time, the original Exorcist was directed by auteur William Friedkin and was nominated for 10 Academy Awards including Best Picture – the first horror film to do so.
No release date has been set for The Exorcist reboot and no cast has yet to be attached, but David did state that he hopes to get to the film “soon.”
A total of four follow-ups to the first film, including a prequel, have been produced, although none carry the prestige or legacy of Friedkin’s work. The new reboot will be produced by Jason Blum, who has found great success with a variety of celebrated horror releases over the past decade with The Conjuring, Get Out and Happy Death Day.
Director David Gordon Green was originally hired to start the franchise from fresh, but plans shifted to instead produce a direct sequel after negative fan reaction. His next project is Halloween Kills, the super-charged slasher sequel to his 2018 film, which will drop this October and the expected third and final entry in the reboot trilogy Halloween Ends, schedules for 2022.