The Exorcist (franchise)
The Exorcist is an American horror media franchise that originated with William Peter Blatty's 1971 horror novel and most prominently featured in a 1973 film adaptation of the novel, spawned many subsequent prequels and sequels although none of them compared positively to the original. All of these installments focus on fictional accounts of people possessed by Pazuzu, the main antagonist of the series, and the efforts of religious authorities to counter this possession.
The films have grossed over $661 million at the worldwide box office and the novel has sold over 13 million copies. 20th Century Fox Television developed a 2016 television series as a continuation of the 1973 film, to generally positive reviews. As of 2020, a reboot of the film series, which was later changed to a direct sequel to the 1973 film, was in development with David Gordon Green as director. Produced by Blumhouse Productions, the film was released by Universal Pictures on October 6, 2023. The film did not meet expectation and plans for a trilogy were scrapped in favor of a reboot with Mike Flanagan as director.
Novels
''The Exorcist'' (1971)
The Exorcist is a 1971 novel by American writer William Peter Blatty. It was adapted into the 1973 film of the same name. The book details the demonic possession of twelve-year-old Regan MacNeil, the daughter of a famous actress, and the two priests who attempt to exorcise the demon. It was published by Harper & Row.The novel was inspired by a 1949 case of demonic possession and exorcism that Blatty heard about while he was a student in the class of 1950 at Georgetown University. As a result, the novel takes place in Washington D.C. near the campus of Georgetown University. In September 2011, the novel was reprinted by HarperCollins to celebrate its 40th anniversary, with slight revisions made by Blatty as well as interior title artwork by Jeremy Caniglia.
''Legion'' (1983)
Legion is the 1983 follow-up to the Exorcist novel, also written by William Peter Blatty. It was made into the movie The Exorcist III in 1990. Like The Exorcist, it involves demonic possession. The book was the focus of a court case over its exclusion from The New York Times Best Seller list.Blatty based aspects of the Gemini Killer on the real-life Zodiac Killer, who, in a January 1974 letter to the San Francisco Chronicle, had praised the original Exorcist film as "the best satirical comedy that I have ever seen".
''Exorcist: The Beginning'' (2004)
Exorcist: The Beginning is a novelization of the 2004 film of the same name. Written by Steven Piziks, it was released by Pocket Star on October 4, 2004.Films
''The Exorcist'' (1973)
The Exorcist is a 1973 American supernatural horror film directed by William Friedkin, adapted by William Peter Blatty from his 1971 novel of the same name, and starring Ellen Burstyn, Linda Blair, Max von Sydow, and Jason Miller.The book, inspired by the 1949 exorcism of Roland Doe, deals with the demonic possession of a 12-year-old girl and her mother's attempts to win back her child through an exorcism conducted by two priests. The adaptation is faithful to the book, which itself has been commercially successful.
''Exorcist II: The Heretic'' (1977)
's Exorcist II: The Heretic was released in 1977 and serves as a sequel to the predecessor. The plot, which takes place four years after the first film, centers on Father Philip Lamont, who is struggling with his faith, as he is assigned by Cardinal to investigate the death of Father Lankester Merrin. Merrin was killed during The Exorcist as he performed the titular exorcism of Regan MacNeil. Flashback sequences show Regan give Merrin his fatal heart attack as well as scenes from the exorcism of a young boy named Kokumo in Africa many years earlier. The Cardinal informs Lamont that Merrin is being investigated posthumously for heresy. Despite approval for the MacNeil exorcism by a bishop, the Church is no longer convinced that MacNeil was truly possessed, and the controversial nature of Merrin's books on the subject are being reconsidered as politically and theologically suspect.''The Exorcist III'' (1990)
and directed by Blatty from his 1983 novel Legion, the film stars George C. Scott and several cast members from Blatty's previous film The Ninth Configuration. The story takes place 15 years after the events of The Exorcist and turns a supporting character from the first film into the main protagonist. He investigates a series of brutal murders in Georgetown that resemble the modus operandi of a serial killer executed about the time of the MacNeil exorcism.Originally titled Legion, the film was drastically changed after rewrites and re-shoots ordered by the studio Morgan Creek Productions. Studio executives demanded the addition of an exorcism sequence and retitled the film as The Exorcist III in order to more strongly tie the film to the rest of the franchise. All of the deleted footage was previously said to be lost/destroyed but has since been found and released in 2016 under the name "The Exorcist III: Legion".
Despite his misgivings about the studio-imposed reshoots, Blatty is proud of the finished version of The Exorcist III, having said: "It's still a superior film. And in my opinion, and excuse me if I utter heresy here, but for me, it's a more frightening film than The Exorcist". Nevertheless, Blatty had hoped to recover the deleted footage from the Morgan Creek vaults so that he might re-assemble the original cut of the film which he said was "rather different" from what was released, and a version of the film fans of the Exorcist series had been requesting. In 2007, Blatty's wife reported on a fan site that "my husband tells me that it is Morgan Creek's claim that they have lost all the footage, including an alternate opening scene in which Kinderman views the body of Karras in the morgue, right after his fall down the steps". According to Mark Kermode quoting an article dating to 2009, the search for the missing footage was "ongoing". The Exorcist III: Legion has since been released in 2016.
''Exorcist: The Beginning'' (2004)
Because of the studio's dissatisfaction with Schrader's version of the prequel, Renny Harlin was hired as director to retool the movie. Harlin reused some of Schrader's footage but shot mostly new material to create a more conventional horror film. Harlin's new version, Exorcist: The Beginning, was released, but it was not well received.The plot revolves around the crisis of faith suffered by Father Merrin following the horrific events he witnessed during World War II. After WWII, Merrin is an archaeologist in Cairo, when he is approached by a collector of antiquities who asks him to come to a British excavation in the Turkana region of Kenya. This dig is excavating a Christian Byzantine church from the 5th century—long before Christianity had reached that region. Further, the church is in perfect condition, as though it had been buried immediately after the construction was completed. Merrin is asked to participate in the dig and find an ancient relic hidden in the ruins before the British do. Merrin takes the job but soon discovers that all is not well—something evil lies in the church and is infecting the region. The local tribesman hired to dig refuse to enter the building, and there are stories of an epidemic that wiped out an entire village. However, when Merrin, growing suspicious of these rumors, digs up one of the graves of the supposed victims of this plague, he discovers it is empty. Meanwhile, the evil grows, turning people against each other and resulting in violence, atrocities, and more bloodshed.
''Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist'' (2005)
A prequel film attracted attention and controversy before its release in 2004; it went through a number of directorial and script changes, such that two versions were ultimately released. John Frankenheimer was originally hired as director for the project, but he withdrew before filming started due to health concerns. He died a month later. Paul Schrader then replaced him. Upon completion, the studio rejected Schrader's version as being too slow and hired another director to retool the movie. Nine months after the release of the retooled movie, Schrader's original version, retitled Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist, was given a small theatrical release.Several years before the events in The Exorcist, the young Father Lankester Merrin travels to East Africa. Merrin has taken a sabbatical from the Church and devoted himself to history and archaeology as he struggles with his shattered faith. He is haunted especially by an incident in a small village in occupied Holland during World War II, where he served as the parish priest. Near the end of the war, a sadistic Nazi SS commander, in retaliation for the murder of a German trooper, forces Merrin to participate in arbitrary executions in order to save a full village from slaughter. He meets up with a team of archaeologists, who are seeking to unearth a church that they believe has been buried for centuries. At first, Merrin resists the idea that supernatural forces are in play but eventually helps them, and the ensuing events result in an encounter with Pazuzu, the same demon referenced in The Exorcist.
''The Exorcist: Believer'' (2023)
In August 2020, it was revealed that Morgan Creek Entertainment was developing a theatrical reboot of The Exorcist. In December, Blumhouse Productions and Morgan Creek changed the reboot to a "direct" sequel which would be directed by HalloweenIn July 2021, it was revealed that a trilogy of sequels were in development with David Gordon Green attached as director on each film. Green and Peter Sattler would write the screenplays, from a story by Green, Scott Teems, and Danny McBride. Jason Blum would serve as producer, alongside James Robinson and David Robinson. Burstyn would reprise her role from the original film, with Leslie Odom Jr. co-starring. The projects would be joint-venture productions between Blumhouse Productions and Morgan Creek Entertainment, with Universal Pictures serving as distributing company. Universal collaborated with Peacock to purchase distribution rights for $400 million total. The second and third films of the trilogy were being optioned as Peacock exclusive films. Later that month, Linda Blair stated that she had not yet been contacted to reprise her role from the original film.
In June 2022, Burstyn stated that she had completed production for her part in the film, revealing that principal photography had commenced some time previous. The film was theatrically released on October 6, 2023. The film's terrible reception lead the studio to cancel the remainder of Green's planned trilogy.