(Left) Laurence Fishburne in ‘Cellar Door’. Photo: Lionsgate. (Right) Chiwetel Ejiofor as Roger in ‘Eleanor the Great’ Image: Anne Joyce. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.
Preview:
Laurence Fishburne and Chiwetel Ejiofor are part of the next ‘Exorcist’ movie.
Mike Flanagan is writing and directing the film.
Scarlett Johansson and Diane Lane are already in the cast.
As he prepares to make his take on a movie that exists within the world of ‘The Exorcist,’ writer/director Mike Flanagan is recruiting two additional cast members –– one new to him, and one he’s worked with before.
The new movie won’t be a continuation of David Gordon Green’s ‘The Exorcist: Believer’ as plans for a trilogy flamed out following the disappointing box office returns for that.
Instead, Flanagan has written his own script, and has the backing of Universal and Blumhouse.
Katherine (Olivia O’Neill) in ‘The Exorcist: Believer,’ directed by David Gordon Green.
Flanagan is keeping his plans quiet for now –– no details have emerged, beyond the basic idea of demonic possession –– and we don’t know how the actors will factor in. We do know, however, that cameras will be rolling in New York this year.
When will the new ‘Exorcist’ movie be on screens?
Universal has scheduled the new movie for release on Friday, March 12, 2027.
(L to R) Cody Flanagan and director Mike Flanagan on the set of ‘The Life of Chuck’. Photo: Neon.
(Left) Diane Lane as Slim Keith in ‘Feud: Capote vs. The Swans.’ Photo: FX. (Right) Linda Blair in 1973’s ‘The Exorcist’. Photo: Warner Bros.
Preview:
Diane Lane is joining the next ‘Exorcist’ movie.
Mike Flanagan is writing and directing the film.
It’ll be an all-new approach.
After a brief detour into the more metaphysical side of filmmaking with ‘The Life of Chuck’ modern horror maestro Mike Flanagan is diving back into the terror genre via a new take on ‘The Exorcist.’
The new movie won’t be a continuation of David Gordon Green’s 2023 effort ‘The Exorcist: Believer’ as plans for a trilogy flamed out following the disappointing box office returns for that.
Instead, Flanagan has written his own script, and has the backing of Universal alongside genre stalwart production companies Blumhouse and Atomic Monster.
(L to R) Cody Flanagan and director Mike Flanagan on the set of ‘The Life of Chuck’. Photo: Neon.
Flanagan is keeping his plans quiet for now –– no details have emerged, beyond the basic idea of demonic possession –– and we don’t know how Johansson, Jupe and now Lane will factor in.
When will the new ‘Exorcist’ movie be on screens?
Universal has scheduled the new movie for release on Friday, March 12, 2027.
The new effort comes courtesy of Universal alongside horror veteran companies Blumhouse and Atomic Monster, who hired ‘The Fall of the House of Usher’s Mike Flanagan to direct with plans to take the franchise in yet another new direction.
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Here’s what Flanagan had to say about the new casting:
“Scarlett is a brilliant actress whose captivating performances always feel grounded and real, from genre films to summer blockbusters, and I couldn’t be happier to have her join this ‘Exorcist’ film.”
Flanagan, when he was first announced as making the new ‘Exorcist’ effort, seemed likely to be tackling ‘The Exorcist: Deceiver,’ the follow-up to David Gordon Green’s ‘The Exorcist: Believer,’ which arrived in 2023.
Yet after ‘Believer’ underperformed at the box office and was bedeviled by critics, Green backed away to focus on other projects.
Now, whatever Flanagan has cooking plot-wise would appear to be a completely new take on the story of possession and terror.
And how Johansson might fit into that? We’ll have to wait and see.
Where else can we see Scarlett Johansson?
Scarlett Johansson as skilled covert operations expert Zora Bennett in ‘Jurassic World Rebirth’, directed by Gareth Edwards. Photo: Universal Pictures.
Johansson has had a successful summer –– she anchored ‘Jurassic World Rebirth,’ which despite its own critical issues, still earned nearly $869 million worldwide.
There are no details yet on when this one might be in theaters, but Deadline reports that with scheduling worked out, it’s likely to be the next movie Johansson makes, so if it shoots next year, 2027 is not out of the realms of possibility.
Katherine (Olivia O’Neill) in ‘The Exorcist: Believer,’ directed by David Gordon Green.
(L to R) Director David Gordon Green and Ben Stiller on the set of ‘Nutcrackers’ which premieres on Hulu November 29th. Photo: Hulu.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with director David Gordon Green and Ben Stiller about their work on ‘Nutcrackers’, how the unusual production came together, discovering the Janson siblings, Stiller’s experience working with Green and the kids, tone, choreographing the dance sequence, shooting on location, reading children’s stories, and making a family Christmas movie.
You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Green, Stiller, Linda Cardellini, Homer Janson, Ulysses Janson, Atlas Janson, and Arlo Janson.
Director David Gordon Green on the set of ‘Nutcrackers’ which premieres on Hulu November 29th. Photo: Hulu.
Moviefone: To begin with, David, I understand that this production was done in an unusual way, can you talk about how this movie came together?
David Gordon Green: It all started a little bit backwards, where I met the cast before we had a script. These four kids were the sons of a friend of mine from film school that live on this farm where we filmed it and they’re ballet dancers, and so hanging out with them, I just thought there’s a movie here if we’re crazy enough to turn a camera on them. I got my buddy Leland (Douglas) to come and write a movie and our influences were the 80s movies we grew up on. Movies like ‘Overboard’, ‘Bad News Bears’ and ‘Six Pack’, this Kenny Rogers movie about orphaned kids was a big one for me, and ‘Uncle Buck’, which I think is a classic but somehow underappreciated. We wanted to lean into those tropes, the nostalgic flavor of those movies, and make a family Christmas movie that I could show to my kids.
Ben Stiller in ‘Nutcrackers’ which premieres on Hulu November 29th. Photo: Hulu.
MF: Ben, what was it like for you as a filmmaker yourself to work in that specific way with David on this movie?
Ben Stiller: Well, I’ve been a fan of his for a long time, and over the years we’ve tried to figure out something to do together. He is such a good filmmaker. He comes from the independent world. He can work in different genres. But he’s great with comedy and he loves movies. This guy loves movies. He loves making movies. I don’t know when the last time I was on a set with a director where they just literally said out of nowhere, “I love making movies.” But he did a couple days in, I was like, this is my guy. I love it. He was just so excited to capture these kids and this place and this world. He was coming from a very independent, organic place with this movie where he just wanted to make something that I think hearkens back to the world that he comes from with his first movies. He created such a fun atmosphere. As an actor, you just want to work with a filmmaker who has a point of view and has a voice and feels inspired, and that’s what it felt like on this one.
Director David Gordon Green on the set of ‘Nutcrackers’ which premieres on Hulu November 29th. Photo: Hulu.
MF: David, after making three ‘Halloween’ movies and an ‘Exorcist’ film, what was it like to make a family friendly Christmas movie?
DGG: It is fun because it’s a different set of challenges. How do you not lean into some of the vulgarity and the grotesqueness that gives me such a jolt in the filmmaking process, but this was leaning into different things and trying to find things that felt natural and authentic about childhood and things that made me laugh about this group, this ensemble, and then bringing Ben Stiller into the insanity. It was a different set of circumstances and honesty, it was cool. We shot it on 35 millimeter and really wanted it to be a bit of a flashback to that era of movies and put our modern day independent minded spin on it.
(L to R) Ben Stiller and director David Gordon Green on the set of ‘Nutcrackers’ which premieres on Hulu November 29th. Photo: Hulu.
MF: The movie is a comedy with dramatic moments. David, can you talk about striking the right tone for this film?
DGG: It wasn’t difficult once we landed Ben Stiller for the movie. I felt very comfortable with the dramatic gravity of the movie and the comedic opportunity of the movie. He’s one of the few actors in that niche that can play in both ranges so well, so we could lean one way and then feel like we’ve done the funny version of the scene, what happens if we play it in the serious emotional version of the scene? In the editing room, we got to make a lot of those decisions and figure out what our balance was. I was really trying to engineer something that parents and kids would each get something different out of and enjoy watching together.
Ben Stiller in ‘Nutcrackers’ which premieres on Hulu November 29th. Photo: Hulu.
MF: In addition to being a great actor, Ben is also an accomplished writer, director and producer. David, is it an added asset to have someone like him on set?
DGG: Yeah, it was valuable. He’s an actor I’ve always admired and a director I really admire. The choices he’s making these days, and it had been too long since the last time he was in front of the camera so for me, it was “Hey man, let’s do this. This is an opportunity to let loose and take all the pressure off because it’s not a big franchise.” There’s only so much preparation you can do because these kids have never acted before, been in front of a camera, and the animals are running lose all over their house. You can’t be in control. All you can do is put a camera in a place and start to play. So for both of us, it was a chance to really break the rules that the last several years of our professional careers had constructed these cages around us of discipline and this was just anarchy. What greater collaborator to do that, to step back into that world of anarchy than Ben Stiller?
(Far Right) Director David Gordon Green and the cast of ‘Nutcrackers’ which premieres on Hulu November 29th. Photo: Hulu.
MF: David, can you talk about working with the Janson siblings and what is it like directing actors who have never acted before?
DGG: A couple of them couldn’t read and they weren’t going to memorize their scripts in a traditional way, so we brought in an acting coach to give them the essence of a scene and help sculpt what that might be so that when Ben got to town, they would already have a formation of an idea. It wasn’t like “Hey, Arlo, you stand here and say this line.” It wasn’t memorized in that way, it was more like, here’s what the in and out of the scene must achieve, and then we do play to the nuances. Sometimes we’d play it funny, and the kids would be allowed to cuss and other times we’d say “Okay, keep it clean, and let’s do this one in a different style”. It was just playful. It was one 35-millimeter camera sitting on a tripod, and we just try to put it in a place where whoever was the hero of the scene, whether it was Ben or one of the kids or one of the pigs, let’s let them lead the way. Every day unfolded like that. You could have a plan for the day, but it was never going to work. You would always just have to evolve with the realities of this organism of the creative process on this movie. It was fun and liberating in a lot of ways because there weren’t the traditional rules that you have on a movie with either a studio behind you or the pressure of a franchise or these other things that we come face to face with as filmmakers. This was like, let’s just roll the dice and see if these kids are as cool as I think they are, and they exceeded all our expectations.
The cast of ‘Nutcrackers’ which premieres on Hulu November 29th. Photo: Hulu.
MF: Ben, what was your experience like working with the Jansons and acting opposite non-actors?
BS: I mean, that was one of the reasons I wanted to do the movie, just to have an experience where these kids weren’t going to have a pre-determined idea of what they’re supposed to do or be professionally trained in any way. I felt like if David was thinking that they would be great to be in this movie, then there must be something there and a reason for that. He was right. They just brought so much of their heart and their innocence and their humor to the process. So, every day, as I thought it might be, it was different. We didn’t know what would happen, and it was a little bit chaotic in a great way, and I think that was what David wanted to capture, the real-life moments, and make this film not feel like a cookie cutter movie for the holidays, but really feel like something that was unique and independent and organic. Every day was just fun. It flew by. The whole movie is very real. They are doing the ‘Nutcracker’ at the theater in Wilmington in less than a month. When we shot the movie last year, they were doing the ‘Nutcracker’, and I went to see them all dance, and these guys are amazing dancers. I mean, it’s all kind of real.
‘Nutcrackers’ premieres on Hulu November 29th. Photo: Hulu.
MF: David, what was it like shooting the ‘Nutcracker’ dance sequence at the end of the film?
DGG: The kids were preparing to do the ‘Nutcracker’. They’re doing it again right now. They do it every year and so I had their ballet teacher choreograph the scene. I said here’s our version of the story. Can you choreograph something for us? They take ballet three times a week, so they know what they’re doing, and they have the discipline as dancers. I think that was a great attribute to them as actors is there was a little bit of if they have choreographers that they’re working for and the directors of the dance department that they acknowledge and admire, Ben and I could step into those shoes a little bit. They were receptive to the guidance and the sculpture that we were trying to create, and then that just got us ready for the dance sequence in the middle of the night on the street when it was 10 degrees outside, which was a very surreal experience for the entire town. It was a fun community to be making a movie in because there’s not a lot that has filmed in Wilmington, Ohio. It was funny, because we went back to the Murphy Theater where we filmed the movie, where they were going to put on their big dance performance at the end of the film and we played the movie for a crowd. So, it was fun realizing that a lot of people had no idea what we were doing. They were like “Oh, this is a real movie.” I think they thought it was some sort of weird performance art we were just doing on the streets of their town last year. It was cool to have this. They were always very supportive and a welcoming artistic community, so it was cool to be able to find that balance between the agricultural community, the artistic community, and see everybody enjoying a movie with one mindset. It was a beautiful experience.
‘Nutcrackers’ premieres on Hulu November 29th. Photo: Hulu.
MF: David, in the film, you mention that the Murphy Theater is where actor John Ritter was married. Is that true?
DGG: It is the theater that John Ritter was married in. I was very proud to be able to work that nuance into it because I’m a big John Ritter fan. So, I love the fact that we could lean into that reality with our tour of the Murphy Theater.
Ben Stiller in ‘Nutcrackers’ which premieres on Hulu November 29th. Photo: Hulu.
MF: There is a scene in the movie where Ben’s character is reading bedtime stories to the kids and ends up retelling the plot of ‘First Blood’. David, was that an improvisation or was that in the script?
DGG: It was in the script and one of the funny aspects of that scene was our script supervisor, her first job was ‘Rambo III’, so we had a creative consultant there guiding us through some of the attributes of later in the franchise for the kids to know and put their spin on it. That was a fun sequence to film, and it was hard not to laugh every time because Ben had to play it seriously and it was hard for me and the kids not to crack up every time.
Director David Gordon Green on the set of ‘Nutcrackers’ which premieres on Hulu November 29th. Photo: Hulu.
MF: David, if you had to read a bedtime story to a child based on one of your movies, which one would it be?
DGG: That’s an interesting question because I’ve recently written a children’s book based on ‘Halloween’. That’s out now, and that was a very fun experiment because we were looking at that exact thing that you’re talking about and I thought that would be the one because it’s such a provocative, alluring thing for young readers and young minds. People talk about ‘Halloween’ and Michael Myers and my kids were always so curious about it, but I didn’t want to show them the movie, so I made the children’s book version of it for them. That would be a fun one. I would also do ‘Your Highness’. I think that would be a great one. Danny McBride and I have talked about that maybe it didn’t work financially or commercially as a big budget studio movie, but maybe as a strange, offbeat, animated show for kids would’ve been a better idea. I don’t know. Whenever we’re developing these projects, we’re thinking who is the audience? Sometimes, we say the audience is us and let’s see who joins the parade and other times, you want to engineer it specifically for old, young, male, female, or whatever. But that’s one of the cool things about a movie like ‘Nutcrackers’ is everyone’s invited. I wanted to make a movie that wasn’t necessarily engineered for kids, but I think kids are going to see a lot of themselves in it, crack themselves up and mom and dad are going to enjoy it just as much. ‘Your Highness’, in a weird way, I think one of our mistakes was making it R-rated because it was such silly obnoxiousness that I think if you would’ve been able to have nine-year-old’s go see that movie when it came out, and that might’ve triggered our own juvenile instincts a little differently.
The cast and crew of ‘Nutcrackers’ which premieres on Hulu November 29th. Photo: Hulu.
MF: Finally, David, what did you learn from making this movie and do you think it will change the way you make movies in the future?
DGG: What it did is it reinstated the confidence I have in my crew, the same crew that made ‘Nutcrackers’ made the ‘Halloween’ movies and the ‘Exorcist’ movie, and so we all needed a palate cleanser after having the experience of the pressure of a franchise on your shoulders. I have to say it’s nice to be making a movie in the shadows that I think people are going to love and I’m not worried about that. I also just love that we’re creating something new from the ground up that also has a nostalgic vibe to it, that feels familiar in a lot of ways to the movies I grew up on in the 80s. Everything I make triggers a lot of the child in me, and so whether that’s the allure of a Michael Myers or the silliness of a ‘Nutcrackers’, I just want to respond to my own inner 11-year-old. Whatever that kid in me is still saying with the possibilities of this industry is where I lean for the next film.
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What is the plot of ‘Nutcrackers’?
A workaholic, Mike (Ben Stiller) must travel to rural Ohio to look after his recently orphaned nephews.
Mike Flanagan is in talks to make ‘The Exorcist: Deceiver’.
David Gordon Green kicked off the new trilogy with ‘The Exorcist: Believer’.
Universal is hoping for a fresh creative voice after ‘Believer’ underperformed.
It was seemingly going so well for Universal and Blumhouse on their collaboration for revivals of classic horror properties. Off the back of a mostly successful three-film run via ‘Halloween’, the studio dived into another, splashing $400 million for the rights to ‘The Exorcist’ with the plan for ‘Halloween’ trilogy filmmaker David Gordon Green to crank out three more movies, and wait for the cash to come rolling in.
Except… It hasn’t quite worked out that way. Green was certainly enthusiastic about his next stab at a big horror property, but then ‘The Exorcist: Believer’, which featured a new story of possession, but also boasted connective tissue via the 1973 movie’s star Ellen Burstyn reprising her role of Chris MacNeil, stumbled.
That movie received fairly scathing reviews, was largely snubbed by audiences, and took in just $136 million worldwide. The potential trilogy’s forward movement grinding to a halt, Green announced he was going off to work on other movies (and the fourth season of HBO series ‘The Righteous Gemstones’), and Blumhouse/Universal found themselves hanging the “Director Wanted” sign.
(from left) Chris MacNeil (Ellen Burstyn) and Victor Fielding (Leslie Odom, Jr.) in ‘The Exorcist: Believer,’ directed by David Gordon Green.
‘The Exorcist: Believer’ followed what happened when two girls disappear into the woods and return three days later with no memory of what happened to them. The father of one girl seeks out Burstyn’s Chris MacNeil, who has been forever altered by what happened to her daughter fifty years ago.
Jennifer Nettles in ‘The Exorcist: Believer’. Photo: Universal Pictures.
Given that (spoiler alert for ‘Believer’!) the first movie ended with one of the girls dragged to Hell by a demon when the father of the other made a tragic choice, there’s plenty of scope for her parents to go to terrible lengths to try and get her back.
Green had said he’d mapped out an idea for the movies going forward, but with Flanagan now likely to make the next one (and reportedly being given creative freedom), there could well be a pivot into more of an anthology idea. But we’ll have to wait and see.
When will ‘The Exorcist: Deceiver’ be in theaters?
While the movie, back when Green was still aboard, was dated for April 18th, 2025, the change in filmmaker has led to a delay. Universal has yet to confirm a new date, obviously waiting to see whether Flanagan takes the job.
(from left) Chris MacNeil (Ellen Burstyn) and Victor Fielding (Leslie Odom, Jr.) in ‘The Exorcist: Believer,’ directed by David Gordon Green.
The cult horror classic makes its return with a brand new chapter in ‘The Exorcist: Believer.’ Helmed by director David Gordon Green (‘Halloween Kills’), the film follows two families connected by their daughters’ mysterious disappearance in the woods.
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Where Can I Watch ‘The Exorcist: Believer’?
(L to R) Tony (Norbert Leo Butz), Katherine (Olivia O’Neill) and Miranda (Jennifer Nettles) in ‘The Exorcist: Believer,’ directed by David Gordon Green.
The film premiered in the United States on October 6, 2023, kicking off the horror season. Originally, ‘The Exorcist: Believer’ was set to be released on October 13, but shifted its date to avoid competing with ‘Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour,’ which became a mega box office hit, grossing over $92 million during the opening weekend.
Producer and Blumhouse founder Jason Blum acknowledged this on his X (formerly Twitter) account by quoting a Taylor Swift song, “Look what you made me do. The Exorcist: Believer moves to 10/6/23.”
Look what you made me do.
The Exorcist: Believer moves to 10/6/23#TaylorWins
‘The Exorcist: Believer’ became available on PVOD on October 24, 2023, only 18 days after its theatrical release. The reason may be due to the film’s poor reception with both critics and audiences alike, with 22% critics score and 59% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
For those who missed the movie on the big screen or just prefer to watch horror flicks at home, ‘The Exorcist: Believer’ is available digitally on services such as Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, Google Play, Apple TV, and Vudu. You can rent the film for $19.99 or purchase it for $29.99.
‘The Exorcist: Believer’ has a total runtime of 1 hour and 51 minutes.
When Will ‘The Exorcist: Believer’ Be Available To Stream?
Director David Gordon Green on the set of ‘The Exorcist: Believer.’
The movie was released by Universal Pictures, and the film will be streaming on its streaming platform Peacock on December 1, 2023. For other films in ‘The Exorcist’ franchise, you can find it streaming on platforms such as Peacock, Prime Video, Max, or Hulu.
(L to R) Victor Fielding (Leslie Odom, Jr.) and Chris MacNeil (Ellen Burstyn) in ‘The Exorcist: Believer,’ directed by David Gordon Green.
‘The Exorcist: Believer’ is technically a reboot, as it introduces brand new characters and stories. However, the movie very much exists within ‘The Exorcist’ world as director David Gordon Green brings Ellen Burstyn into the film to reprise her role as Chris MacNeil – Regan’s mother in the 1970 original.
Fans were delighted to learn about Burstyn’s return, as the trailer shows her speaking with a possessed Katherine, “We’ve met before. But I’m not talking to you now”. Katherine’s demonic voice responds with, “Are you looking for Regan?” alluding to her daughter’s brush with demonic possession and exorcism.
Much like horror icon Jamie Lee Curtis’ return to the latest ‘Halloween’ franchise (also helmed by David Gordon Green), fans may be expecting Burstyn’s appearance in the film to have the same effect. However, her role is not as significant as the trailer makes it out to be. Instead, the story focuses on the two families – Victor (Leslie Odom Jr.) and his daughter Angela (Lidya Jewett) and Katherine’s (Olivia Marcum) parents.
The film also explores other cultures’ ideas of exorcism, taking it beyond the Catholic church.
Watch the official trailers for ‘The Exorcist: Believer’ below:
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The official synopsis for ‘The Exorcist: Believer’:
“Since the death of his pregnant wife in a Haitian earthquake 12 years ago, Victor Fielding (Tony winner and Oscar nominee Leslie Odom, Jr.; ‘One Night in Miami,’ ‘Hamilton‘) has raised their daughter, Angela (Lidya Jewett, ‘Hidden Figures‘) on his own. 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: Chris MacNeil.”
Who Is In The Cast of ‘The Exorcist: Believer’?
The movie stars Lesie Odom Jr as Victor Fielding, Lidya Jewett as Angela Fielding, Olivia Marcum as Katherine, Jennifer Nettles as Miranda, Norbert Leo Butz as Tony, Ann Dowd as Ann, and Ellen Burstyn reprises her role as Chris MacNeil.
Katherine (Olivia O’Neill) in ‘The Exorcist: Believer,’ directed by David Gordon Green.
Director David Gordon Green on the set of ‘The Exorcist: Believer.’
Preview
Universal has sunk more than $400 million into buying the rights to ‘The Exorcist’.
‘The Exorcist: Believer’ performed solidly but didn’t set the box office alight in the same way as ‘Halloween’.
Director David Gordon Green may not necessarily return to direct the sequels, which are likely to see some creative tinkering on their way to screens.
Is the planned ‘Exorcist’ movie trilogy kicked off by last week’s ‘The Exorcist: Believer’ bedeviled? Universal might be starting to think it is.
While David Gordon Green’s first movie in what is imagined, like his ‘Halloween’ effort, as a three-movie franchise that follows up William Friedkin’s original 1973 horror classic did decent if uninspiring business at the box office (it has so far made $46 million worldwide, which covers its thrifty $30 million budget), it needs to perform better to recoup a much bigger figure.
What has happened with the new ‘Exorcist’ movies so far?
(from left) Chris MacNeil (Ellen Burstyn) and Victor Fielding (Leslie Odom, Jr.) in ‘The Exorcist: Believer,’ directed by David Gordon Green.
Universal has already put $400 million into acquiring the rights to the movie franchise alone, even before the money it spent directly on the first film. And that puts a heavier amount of pressure on the new trilogy to perform.
The Reporter’s story doesn’t have specifics, but it is looking like there could be some creative tinkering for ‘The Exorcist: Deceiver’ and the other, yet-to-be-revealed third movie spawned from Green’s first instalment.
A completed script is already in hand for ‘Deceiver’, though there could well be changes on that front.
And the studio has found ways to generate revenue from the title beyond any new films –– including fees for streaming the movie on Peacock and an ‘Exorcist’ attraction at Universal Studio’s Halloween Horror Nights.
Will David Gordon Green return for the other movies?
‘The Exorcist: Believer’ director David Gordon Green and producer Jason Blum.
While Green directed all three ‘Halloween’ movies and had previously said he’d be handling the new trilogy in the same fashion, recent statements from the director are making that look less likely.
“My intention is just to start making things, and as those plans come together, if I find myself in ‘The Exorcist: Deceiver’ director’s chair, I’d be thrilled. But right now, I’m navigating it from a story perspective and looking at my realities of life as I pivot.”
He’s also been showing signs that he’s ready to make other things besides horror movies. He does have creative outlets such as TV comedy ‘The Righteous Gemstones’, but on the big screen he was ready to step away from the horror genre until Blumhouse boss Jason Blum dangled the idea of the ‘Exorcist’ movies in front of him.
However it all works out (and whoever ends up making it), we are still likely to see ‘The Exorcist: Deceiver’ in 2025.
(L to R) Victor Fielding (Leslie Odom, Jr.) and Chris MacNeil (Ellen Burstyn) in ‘The Exorcist: Believer,’ directed by David Gordon Green.
Can it replicate the success (hit and miss as it was) of Green’s ‘Halloween’ trilogy? On the evidence of this, not really.
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What’s the story of ‘The Exorcist: Believer’?
(from left) Chris MacNeil (Ellen Burstyn) and Victor Fielding (Leslie Odom, Jr.) in ‘The Exorcist: Believer,’ directed by David Gordon Green.
Since the death of his pregnant wife in a Haitian earthquake 13 years ago, Victor Fielding (Leslie Odom Jr.) has raised their daughter, Angela (Lidya Jewett) on his own.
But when Angela and her friend Katherine (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: Chris MacNeil (Ellen Burstyn).
Who else is in ‘The Exorcist: Believer’?
(L to R) Tony (Norbert Leo Butz), Katherine (Olivia O’Neill) and Miranda (Jennifer Nettles) in ‘The Exorcist: Believer,’ directed by David Gordon Green.
Director David Gordon Green on the set of ‘The Exorcist: Believer.’
Clearly deciding that because his first ‘Halloween’ movie was a hit with audiences and critics (and ignoring the response to the other two), David Gordon Green returns to the horror beat by planning a sequel-skipping follow-up to another legendary horror title.
Unlike John Carpenter’s franchise, which had at its core Jamie Lee Curtis’ Laurie Strode, something that Green hitched his own wagon to, this time he’s only really using Ellen Burstyn’s Chris MacNeil (the mother of Linda Blair’s possessed Regan in the 1970s original) as window dressing.
Instead, the focus here is on two new families –– Odom Jr’s Victor and the parents of Katherine. And opening up the concept for a linked possession does offer a few decent ideas.
What also works –– at least until it really doesn’t –– is exploring other cultures’ ideas of exorcism, widening the world of ritual and belief beyond the Catholic church.
(L to R) Victor Fielding (Leslie Odom, Jr., background) and Angela Fielding (Lidya Jewett) with additional cast members in ‘The Exorcist: Believer,’ directed by David Gordon Green.
Odom Jr. adds another decent role to his cinematic resume, even if he is saddled with a very seen-it-before single dad role, all comedy bonding and then concern.
Green has also stacked his cast with some great performers in both the lead and supporting roles, the two youngsters who end up vessels for demonic creatures working with the special effects team to convince you that they’re suffering at the hands of some terrible entity.
The likes of Ann Dowd (in particular) and Raphael Sbarge do good work with their parts even when the writing lets them down. They’re given moments to shine and some shading in between the scares, and they really put the work in to sell these side characters. Ditto Norbert Leo Butz as Katherine’s concerned dad.
Finally, Green has the courage of his convictions with regards to the outcome, but we’ll say no more about that.
What are the problems with ‘The Exorcist: Believer’?
(from left) Angela Fielding (Lidya Jewett) and Katherine (Olivia Marcum) in ‘The Exorcist: Believer,’ directed by David Gordon Green.
Possibly the biggest issue with the new movie is that, unlike William Friedkin’s, it exists in a world where we’ve had enough possession stories to fill at least one level of Hell. Even just earlier this year, we had Russell Crowe puttering around on a Vespa before doing battle with the forces of evil in ‘The Pope’s Exorcist’.
The existence of those other films is not a fault of this latest stab at ‘The Exorcist’ but the choice to make it –– and to attempt to follow what is still regarded as the best –– can entirely be laid at the feet of Green and his team.
So, this needed to be truly great to stand out. Unfortunately, it’s mostly middling. Despite the performances from most of the cast, it’s clear that Green and co. were mostly on a nostalgia trip, bringing back Burstyn for little more than a glorified cameo, reduced primarily to offering exposition.
This is also very much in the Blumhouse mold, the difference between this movie and Friedkin’s stark. Where the original is cold and calculated, this is all eager jump scares and frenetic pacing, images thrown at the screen in an attempt to keep us unnerved.
Yet the effect by the end is more enervating than unnerving, the bag of tricks becoming clear. Yes, it might seem unfair to compare this with one of the greatest horror movies of all time, but when you opt to shoot “a new chapter”, you already invited that.
Katherine (Olivia O’Neill) in ‘The Exorcist: Believer,’ directed by David Gordon Green.
What ‘The Exorcist’ does with a few lashings of pea-soup, a quick neck twist and some levitation, the new movie cannot challenge, even with a healthy respect for physical effects augmented by judicious use of digital trickery.
Likewise, the demonic figure at the center of the story is in no way as compelling as in the original, possibly because our attention is split between the two victims. And an obvious attempt to channel the personal connection of the first film (more than once) comes across as crass more than emotional.
And beyond the script letting the ensemble down in key moments, it starts to unravel as a whole, cliches creeping in to possess the movie long before the credits roll.
Is this likely to make your head spin with excitement? Unless you know almost nothing about the original, probably not. While Friedkin’s rightly lauded original might be considered slow by today’s audiences raised on a diet of endless jump moments and quicker editing, Green’s version will try the patience in other ways.
Proof, surely (even with Green’s confirmed plans that this should kick off another trilogy) that the co-writer/director might be better off going back to fully original work.
One to see only if the power of curiosity compels you.
‘The Exorcist: Believer’ receives 6 out of 10 stars.
‘The Exorcist: Believer’ opens in theaters on October 13th.
Scene from ‘Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour Movie.’ Photo: AMC Theatres.
You will likely have seen the trailer for ‘Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour’ concert film (if not, you can find it here). And such is the demand the musical megastar’s work –– especially from fans, some of whom haven’t been able to attend the sold-out concerts, and others who wish to see (or re-experience) the LA show(s), that presales on the movie have been stratospheric.
In the first 24 hours, the film has earned $26 million in the U.S., with AMC Theaters also selling in Mexico and Canada (via its Regal and Cinemark chains) for a grand total in the first 24 hours alone of $37 million.
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This marks a canny move by AMC, which set itself up as the distributor as well as the exhibitor, meaning that it doesn’t have to pay fees to a studio and keeps more of the cash.
Early estimates put the opening weekend projections for the movie at around $70 million, including those presales.
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What is the Eras Tour?
Scene from ‘Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour Movie.’ Photo: AMC Theatres.
The tour, which as the title suggests sees the singer/songwriter performing music from her various career “eras”, has been a massive triumph. The concert was attended by more than three million “Swifties” during the first leg of its U.S. run.
Not only did it shatter all concert sales records, but it also left tens of millions of fans wanting more, either because they attended the concert and wanted to see it again, or after being unable to obtain tickets for the many sold out performances.
While the first leg concluded last month, Taylor Swift has further dates planned for the tour, with the aim to head internationally next year.
(from left) Chris MacNeil (Ellen Burstyn) and Victor Fielding (Leslie Odom, Jr.) in ‘The Exorcist: Believer,’ directed by David Gordon Green.
When it was announced that ‘The Eras Tour’ would land on the same day as David Gordon Green’s new horror movie, ‘The Exorcist: Believer’, the internet was quick to spawn the latest portmanteau term in movie world (following “Barbenheimer”) as talk of “Exorswift” began to circulate.
It was hoped that, like ‘Barbie’ and ‘Oppenheimer’, the new combo might prove successful, especially since nervy studios have begun moving their movies later down the release calendar without striking stars to promote them, leading to fewer new releases.
Yet, clearly intimidated by the thought of competing with the incredibly successful recording artist, the demons have made a run for it, as Blumhouse and Universal have decided to shift ‘Believer’ to a week earlier, and that movie will now open on 6th October.
When does ‘The Eras Tour?’ hit theaters?
Scene from ‘Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour Movie.’ Photo: AMC Theatres.
‘Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour’ will launch in theaters on Friday, October 13th. It’ll have a unique release plan, playing at least four showtimes per day on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays in every U.S. AMC Theatre location.
AMC will offer the film in IMAX and Dolby Cinema as well as standard screenings, with fees varying by format and theatre. In anticipation of an expected rush of interest –– A.K.A., a repeat of Ticketmaster’s hectic presale roll-out for the U.S. Eras Tour dates — AMC upgraded its website and ticketing engines to handle more than five times the largest influx of ticket-buying traffic ever experienced by the company. You can purchase tickets here.
In a fun nod to fans, the adult price is $19.89 (before tax), which references ‘1989’, her fifth studio album, released in 2014 and the next to have been re-recorded under the ‘Taylor’s Version’ concept, which sees her reclaiming her back catalogue.
Scene from ‘Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour Movie.’ Photo: AMC Theatres.
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