Blumhouse and Morgan Creek have been attempting to bring The Exorcist back to new audiences. Today Deadline announced that they have partnered with Universal Pictures and NBCUniversal’s streaming service Peacock, and have closed a reported $400 million-plus deal to purchase worldwide rights for a new Exorcist franchise that will see Ellen Burstyn reprise her role as the mother of Reagan, whom was once possessed.
The film will be directed by David Gordon Green (Halloween), and starring Leslie Odom Jr. (Hamilton) as a father who’s child is now possessed. He tracks down Chris MacNeil (Burstyn’s Exorcist character), the mother of the formerly possessed Regan MacNeil (Linda Blair). Universal says the new franchise will be three films in total and will be a “continuation,” of the 1973 original.
Although the original film did spawn sequels and prequels, Burstyn was not a part of any of them. This will mark the first time she will reprise the role. Jason Blum will produce the new Exorcist for Blumhouse, with David Robinson and James Robinson producing for Morgan Creek. David Gordon Green, Danny McBride and Couper Samuelson are also attached to executive produce.
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“There’s no better time to be joining forces with the team at Peacock, reuniting with the great team at Universal and finally getting to work with my friends at Blumhouse, than on this classic franchise,” Morgan Creek president David Robinson said in a statement Monday. “David Gordon Green, Danny McBride, Scott Teems and Peter Sattler have put together a compelling continuation of this iconic tale and I can’t wait to bring this to fans around the world.”
“Blumhouse has always experienced incredible partnership from the team at Universal, and I’m grateful to Donna Langley and Jimmy Horowitz for believing in the vision of David’s film and having the foresight to be flexible with distribution, so the team feels top notch support through the lifeline of the film. They’re committed to theatrical exhibition and will also serving streaming viewers well by bringing an exciting franchise like The Exorcist to Peacock too,”Jason Blum said. “I’m grateful to be working with David Robinson and the great team at Morgan Creek on this iconic franchise.”
The first film in the new Exorcist trilogy is set to be released in theaters on October 13, 2023. The other installments could premiere on Peacock, but those rumors are unsubstantiated at this point. Be sure to follow ScaryNerd for more of all things horror, sci-fi and more.
