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The Exorcist: Believer

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The Exorcist: Believer is a 2023 American supernatural horror film directed by David Gordon Green and written by Green and Peter Sattler, from a story by Scott Teems, Danny McBride, and Green. The sixth installment in The Exorcist franchise, it serves as a direct sequel to the original 1973 film.[6][7] The film stars Leslie Odom Jr., Ann Dowd, Jennifer Nettles, Norbert Leo Butz, Lidya Jewett, and Olivia Marcum (in her film debut), along with Ellen Burstyn reprising her role from the original film as Chris MacNeil.

Jason Blum produces through his Blumhouse Productions banner, alongside David C. and James G. Robinson through their Morgan Creek Entertainment banner, in association with executive producers Green and McBride's Rough House Pictures. Universal Pictures collaborated with Peacock to acquire distribution rights in June 2021 for $400 million, with the intention of launching a new trilogy of films. Principal photography took place between November 2022 and March 2023.

The Exorcist: Believer is scheduled to be theatrically released in the United States on October 6, 2023. The film received generally negative reviews from critics.[8] A sequel, entitled The Exorcist: Deceiver, is scheduled to be released on April 18, 2025.

Premise[]

The parents of demonically possessed girls, desperate for help, search for the only person alive who has had similar experiences: Chris MacNeil.[9][10]

Cast[]

  • Leslie Odom Jr. as Victor Fielding, Angela's father[11]
  • Ann Dowd as Ann, a nurse and former novitiate nun[12]
  • Jennifer Nettles as Miranda, Katherine's mother[12]
  • Norbert Leo Butz as Tony, Katherine's father[12]
  • Lidya Jewett as Angela Fielding, Victor's daughter[11]
  • Olivia Marcum as Katherine, Miranda and Tony's daughter[11]
  • Ellen Burstyn as Chris MacNeil, a former actress, writer and mother of Regan MacNeil, who was possessed 50 years ago[13]
  • Okwui Okpokwasili as Dr. Beehibe, a ritualistic healer [12]
  • Raphael Sbarge as Don Revans, a Baptist pastor, and a close friend of Katherine's parents[12]
  • Danny McCarthy as Stuart, a Pentecostal preacher and Victor's neighbor[12]
  • E.J. Bonilla as Father Maddox, a rebellious priest[14]
  • Tracey Graves as Sorenne Fielding, Victor's deceased wife[12]

Production[]

Development[]

In August 2020, it was reported that Morgan Creek Entertainment would be producing a new installment in The Exorcist franchise.[15] A tentative theatrical release window of 2021 was planned by the studio.[16][17] Ben Pearson of Slash Film noted that the studio had previously stated that it would "never attempt to remake The Exorcist" but that it would also obtain the "blessings of their library titles' original creators before they move forward with new entries".[18]

In December 2020, it was clarified that the project in development would be a sequel to the original film, with David Gordon Green in early negotiations to serve as director. Jason Blum, David Robinson, and James Robinson serve as producers.[19][20][21] In July 2021, it was reported that a trilogy of sequels were concurrently in development with Green hired to direct the first of the new installments, from a script he co-wrote with Peter Sattler,[13][22] from an original story he co-wrote with Scott Teems and Danny McBride.[23] Green, McBride, Couper Samuelson and Stephanie Allain serve as executive producers.[24][25] Prior to acquiring the series' rights from Morgan Creek Entertainment, the writing team and Blum spent early 2020 devising the story over Zoom.[26]

The projects are joint-venture productions between Blumhouse Productions and Morgan Creek Entertainment with Universal Pictures distributing. Universal collaborated with Peacock to purchase distribution rights for $400 million total. Parts two and three of the trilogy were optioned as potential Peacock exclusive films.[13][22] By October 2021, Green expressed his intentions to direct all three films, with script outlines completed for the latter two films that he co-wrote with Sattler.[9][27][10]

Casting[]

Ellen Burstyn reprised her role as Chris MacNeil from the original film, with Leslie Odom Jr. co-starring as a father who tracks down Chris to help his possessed child.[13] Ann Dowd, Lidya Jewett, Olivia Marcum and Okwui Okpokwasili were also cast.[28][29][30][31] Raphael Sbarge joined the cast as a pastor.[32] Jennifer Nettles has a "primary role" in the film.[33]

Filming[]

In early 2022, Burstyn stated that she had completed production for her part in the film.[34] Though Green had previously stated that he would begin work on the sequel after completing Halloween Ends (2022), given the actress' age and the risks of the COVID-19 pandemic, the production team worked with Burstyn to make sure they had her part completed for the film.[34][35] Linda Blair, who portrayed Regan MacNeil in the first film, was an "advisor" on set. Green stated to Total Film that "I was really lucky to have [Blair] read the script, but she was not interested in a significant role and stepping back into that. We brought her in as an advisor because we're dealing with young people, and we want to take them to dangerous places safely".[36]

On a production budget of $30 million,[5] principal photography began in November 2022, in Atlanta and Savannah, Georgia.[37] Burstyn was brought in that month for reshoots.[38] In mid-December, production was shut down early for the holidays after Odom had an "unspecified health issue".[39] Filming concluded in early March 2023.[25]

Release[]

The Exorcist: Believer is set to be released by Universal Pictures in the United States on October 6, 2023.[40] It was previously set for October 13,[13][22] before being moved up a week earlier to avoid competition with the concert film Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour.[40]

Reception[]

Box office[]

In the United States and Canada, The Exorcist: Believer is projected to gross $30–36 million from 3,600 theaters its opening weekend.[41]

Critical response[]

On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, 21% of 4.6 critics gave the film a positive review, with an average rating of 115/10. Using a weighted average calculator, Metacritic assigned the film a score of 41 out of 100, based on 38 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.

Owen Gleiberman writing for Variety said in his review, "The Exorcist: Believer, in its superficially competent and poshly mounted way, feels about as dangerous as a crucifix dipped in a bottle of designer water".[14] David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter said "Unlike Green's Halloween trilogy, which served up diminishing returns with each new installment, Believer condenses that downward trajectory into the first chapter" and called the film "hella disappointing".[42] Chase Hutchinson of Collider said "The Exorcist: Believer doesn't earn your belief or your fear" and called it a "superficial sequel".[43]

USA Today's Brian Truitt gave the film a score of three out of four. He noted Burstyn's limited screen time, writing, "Odom gets a meatier character arc than Burstyn did back in the day, and while her return isn't as integral to the story as Jamie Lee Curtis' was to the rebooted Halloween, Chris' appearance adds needed weight to the Believer narrative. [...] With a formidable Believer and two more Exorcist movies in the pipeline, though, at least this franchise still has a prayer".[44] Olly Richards of Empire felt differently about Burstyn's role, "The role feels gimmicky rather than essential and sets the film on a cheesier path of call-backs, winks, and attempts to one-up the original. It becomes a tribute act, its own personality shrinking in the shadow of a classic".[45]

Future[]

In July 2021, two sequels were confirmed to be in development with the same creative team of Green, McBride, Sattler, and Teems on board.[9][27][10] The first of these sequels, The Exorcist: Deceiver, will be released in theaters April 18, 2025.[11]

References[]

  1. ↑ Cinematographer Michael Simmonds looks back on Cell adaptation and teases new Exorcist film (2023-01-19).
  2. ↑ Tim Alverson resume.
  3. ↑ David Wingo & Amman Abbasi Scoring David Gordon Green's The Exorcist: Believer'.
  4. ↑ The Exorcist: Believer (15) (September 22, 2023).
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Gordon, David (October 3, 2023). Hollywood is broken. Jason Blum, the king of low-budget horror, has the fix.. “Exorcist: Believer was made for $30 million—a pittance for a studio production, but three times the cost of a regular Blumhouse movie.”
  6. ↑ Exorcist reboot director David Gordon Green says the movie will be a sequel to the original (2021-07-22).
  7. ↑ https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/exorcist-believer-wipe-continuity-clean-151508475.html
  8. ↑ Hibberd, James (2023-10-04). Exorcist: Believer Gets Horrifying Reviews After Studio Gambled $400 Million for Rights.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Squires, John (October 14, 2021). David Gordon Green is Planning on Directing All Three Films in Brand New 'The Exorcist' Trilogy.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Sneider, Jeff (July 26, 2021). 'The Exorcist': David Gordon Green to Direct New Blumhouse Trilogy Starring Leslie Odom Jr..
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 'The Exorcist: Believer' Trailer Unleashes Ellen Burstyn and Two Demons, Sequel Sets 2025 Release Date (en-US) (2023-07-25).
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 12.5 12.6 Squires, John (2023-09-28). The Exorcist: Believer – 20+ Images Preview the First Exorcist Movie in 20 Years.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 Vlessing, Etan (July 26, 2021). Leslie Odom Jr., Ellen Burstyn to Star in 'The Exorcist' Sequel.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Gleiberman, Owen (2023-10-04). The Exorcist: Believer Review: David Gordon Green's Reboot Trots Out the Same Old Tropes, Minus the Dread.
  15. ↑ Gerblick, Jordan (August 18, 2020). The Exorcist reboot reportedly in development for 2021 theatrical release.
  16. ↑ Rachel Weisz To Star In & Produce Dead Ringers TV Series Reboot In Works At Amazon From Normal People Scribe Alice Birch & Annapurna TV (August 18, 2020).
  17. ↑ Squires, John (August 18, 2020). The Exorcist: Morgan Creek Reportedly Developing a New Reboot Movie for Theaters.
  18. ↑ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Pearson, Ben (August 18, 2020). "'The Exorcist' Reboot Reportedly Coming To Theaters In 2021". /Film. Archived from the original on July 6, 2022. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
  19. ↑ Couch, Aaron (December 20, 2020). 'Exorcist' Sequel in the Works with 'Halloween' Director David Gordon Green.
  20. ↑ Katz, Brandon (December 20, 2020). Exclusive: David Gordon Green in Talks to Direct 'Exorcist' Sequel for Blumhouse.
  21. ↑ Pulliam-Moore, Charles (December 24, 2020). Blumhouse Is Summoning Another Exorcist Movie to the Mortal Plane.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Barnes, Brooks (July 26, 2021). "Hollywood Head Spinner: Universal Spends Big for New 'Exorcist' Trilogy". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on May 25, 2022. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
  23. ↑ Welk, Brian (July 26, 2021). Universal Pays $400 Million for New 'Exorcist' Trilogy Featuring Leslie Odom Jr. and Ellen Burstyn.
  24. ↑ Melanson, Angel (July 26, 2021). Ellen Burstyn Returns To The World Of The Exorcist For New Trilogy.
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 D'Alessandro, Anthony (2023-03-10). Stephanie Allain Joins The Exorcist As EP, Filming Wraps On Blumhouse Universal Horror Pic.
  26. ↑ Cavanaugh, Patrick (May 9, 2022). The Exorcist Reboot Writer Reveals Approach to Upcoming Film.
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 Lawrence, Gregory (October 13, 2021). David Gordon Green on Why His 'Exorcist' Trilogy Is an "Entirely Different Writing Process" Than 'Halloween'.
  28. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (August 2, 2022). Ann Dowd Joins Leslie Odom Jr. & Ellen Burstyn In 'The Exorcist'.
  29. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (2023-02-02). Lidya Jewett To Star In The Exorcist Movie Reboot From Blumhouse, Universal And Peacock.
  30. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (2023-02-06). The Exorcist: Blumhouse, Universal & Peacock Horror Redo Sets Olivia Marcum.
  31. ↑ Grobar, Matt (2023-03-01). Blumhouse's 'The Exorcist' Casts Okwui Okpokwasili.
  32. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (2023-02-09). Blumhouse's The Exorcist Finds Pastor In Raphael Sbarge.
  33. ↑ Lang, Brent (2023-02-24). Jennifer Nettles Joins 'The Exorcist' in Key Role (Exclusive).
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 Squires, John (June 1, 2022). 'The Exorcist' Relaunch – Ellen Burstyn Suggests She Has Already Filmed Her Scenes.
  35. ↑ Outlaw, Kofi (June 2, 2022). The Exorcist Star Ellen Burstyn Already Shot Scenes for New Movie.
  36. ↑ Graham, Jamie (2023-09-13). David Gordon Green teases original Exorcist star Linda Blair's involvement in new movie.
  37. ↑ Rajput, Priyanca (November 4, 2022). 2022 film and high-end TV productions shooting globally: latest updates.
  38. ↑ Jirak, Jamie (August 27, 2022). The Exorcist: Ellen Burstyn Reveals Huge Pay Day for Sequel Return (en).
  39. ↑ Fleming, Mike Jr. (December 15, 2022). Health Issue For Leslie Odom Jr. Prompts Holiday Break For Bedeviled 'Exorcist' Redo.
  40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 D'Alessandro, Anthony (August 31, 2023). The Exorcist: Believer Now Going A Week Earlier As Taylor Swift Moves Onto October Schedule. Deadline Hollywood.
  41. ↑ Rubin, Rebecca (2023-10-04). The Exorcist: Believer Aims to Scare Up at Least $30 Million in Box Office Debut.
  42. ↑ Rooney, David (2023-10-04). The Exorcist: Believer Review: Early Intrigue Devolves Into Unoriginal Excess in David Gordon Green's Sequel.
  43. ↑ Hutchinson, Chase (2023-10-04). The Exorcist: Believer Review: David Gordon Green's Soulless Horror Sequel Lacks Scares.
  44. ↑ Truitt, Brian (October 4, 2023). The Exorcist: Believer review: Sequel is plenty demonic but lacks horror classic's soul.
  45. ↑ Richards, Olly (2023-04-10). The Exorcist: Believer.

External links[]

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