The Exorcistfranchise is back — 50 years after the original classic.
Universal Pictures
“Since the death of his pregnant wife in a Haitian earthquake 12 years ago, Victor Fielding (Odom, Jr.) has raised their daughter, Angela on his own,” reads an official synopsis.
“But when Angela and her friend Katherine (newcomer Olivia Marcum), disappear in the woods, only to return three days later with no memory of what happened to them, it unleashes a chain of events that will force Victor to confront the nadir of evil and, in his terror and desperation, seek out the only person alive who has witnessed anything like it before.”
Last August, producer Jason Blum teased the project,telling Deadline, “I’m really excited aboutThe Exorcist. The first person I approached when we picked up the film was David Gordon Green. I thought what David did withHalloweenwas great and I think he really found a great balance of respecting the original intellectual property, but also bringing something new to it. So it didn’t feel like a retread.”
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“So I was really happy when he wanted to doThe Exorcistand we’re starting production really soon. We’re already setting up a framework and thinking about a trilogy,” he added at the time. “We also have a great cast.”
Burstyn, 90,toldThe Hollywood Reporterthat same month why she finally agreed to return to the horror franchise afterpreviously turning down sizable offers.
“What happened was I’ve turned down many versions ofThe Exorcist 2. I’ve said no every time. This time they offered me a whole bunch of money and I still said no,” she said. “And then they surprised me and they came back and said, ‘We doubled the offer.’ I said, ‘Okay, let me think about this.’ I thought, ‘That’s a lot of money. Let me think about it.’ The next thought that came to mind was: ‘I feel like the devil is asking my price.’ "
“And the next thought that came to mind was, ‘My price is a scholarship program for talented students at our master’s degree program at Pace University. That’s my price.’ So I then went back and upped their up and ended up getting what I want,” added Burstyn. “And I’ve got a scholarship program for young actors. Isn’t that great?”
Linda Blair, who earned an Oscar nomination as a teen for her performance as the possessed Regan MacNeil in the original film, tweeted in 2021 that shewas not planning on being in the new movie.
“To all my fans asking about my involvement in the newExorcistreboot, as of now there has not been any discussion about me participating or reprising my role,” the actress, now 64,wroteat the time. “I wish all those involved the best and I appreciate the loyalty and passion the fans have forThe Exorcistand my character.”
The Exorcist: Believeropens in theaters Oct. 13.
source: people.com
