After having his way with Halloween, David Gordon Green is now rebooting The Exorcist. While news first broke back in December that the director would be putting a new head-spin on the classic horror property, we now know he will actually be doing a trilogy of new Exorcist movies, which will also find Ellen Burstyn reprising her role from the original 1973 William Friedkin film.
As the New York Times reports, Green will direct a trio of new Exorcist movies for Blumhouse. And with Burstyn back onboard, it basically makes the whole plan exactly like Green's Halloween reboot, which also includes a trio of films and the return of original star Jamie Lee Curtis.
Green's upcoming Exorcist films will also star Leslie Odom Jr., the New York Times reports, with the actor set to play the father of a possessed child who tracks down Burstyn for help. The NYT also adds that Universal Pictures and its streaming service Peacock "have closed a $400 million-plus megadeal" to do the three films.
The rights to The Exorcist franchise have been held by Morgan Creek Entertainment, who will also be working alongside Blumhouse on the new movies. Green will reportedly be both writing and directing the films.
As per the NYT, "The first film in the trilogy is expected to arrive in theaters in late 2023. Under the terms of the deal, the second and third films could debut on Peacock, according to one of the people briefed on the matter."
Green recently opened about about The Exorcist in an interview with Total Film.
"I like all the Exorcist movies," Green said. "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.' That's fine to exist. They're all fine to exist, and I enjoy all of them."
He continued, "It's another fun legacy to be a part of, and hopefully we'll get that going in the near future. That one is a lot of research, rather than just impulsive screenwriting. That's one that you talk to a lot of people. You read a lot of books, and do a shit-load of interviews. There was such a dramatic authenticity to what that original film is. It's a lot more than I anticipated getting into it. And I guess I was naïve to think that. But it was very exhilarating to be involved in a lot of those conversations that you find yourself in."
Green's next film Halloween Kills — the second in his Halloween trilogy — arrives on October 15.
As the New York Times reports, Green will direct a trio of new Exorcist movies for Blumhouse. And with Burstyn back onboard, it basically makes the whole plan exactly like Green's Halloween reboot, which also includes a trio of films and the return of original star Jamie Lee Curtis.
Green's upcoming Exorcist films will also star Leslie Odom Jr., the New York Times reports, with the actor set to play the father of a possessed child who tracks down Burstyn for help. The NYT also adds that Universal Pictures and its streaming service Peacock "have closed a $400 million-plus megadeal" to do the three films.
The rights to The Exorcist franchise have been held by Morgan Creek Entertainment, who will also be working alongside Blumhouse on the new movies. Green will reportedly be both writing and directing the films.
As per the NYT, "The first film in the trilogy is expected to arrive in theaters in late 2023. Under the terms of the deal, the second and third films could debut on Peacock, according to one of the people briefed on the matter."
Green recently opened about about The Exorcist in an interview with Total Film.
"I like all the Exorcist movies," Green said. "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.' That's fine to exist. They're all fine to exist, and I enjoy all of them."
He continued, "It's another fun legacy to be a part of, and hopefully we'll get that going in the near future. That one is a lot of research, rather than just impulsive screenwriting. That's one that you talk to a lot of people. You read a lot of books, and do a shit-load of interviews. There was such a dramatic authenticity to what that original film is. It's a lot more than I anticipated getting into it. And I guess I was naïve to think that. But it was very exhilarating to be involved in a lot of those conversations that you find yourself in."
Green's next film Halloween Kills — the second in his Halloween trilogy — arrives on October 15.
