Genre: Horror.
Studio:
Unknown.
Production Company:
Morgan Creek.
Project Phase: Script Stage.
Who's In It:
Max Von Sydow may make an appearance reprising his role as Father Merrin.
Who's Making It:
William Peter Blatty (Screenwriter).
Premise: A prequel chronologically set during the flashback sequence in the first Exorcist film. Father Merrin faces down the demon that will return to terrorize him at a future date.
Release Date: Unknown.
Comments: So the first film scared the hell out of you, while the subsequent sequel Exorcist 2: The Heretic made you scared for all the wrong reasons (i.e. that this was actually considered a good idea and put to film.) 1990 saw the release of Exorcist III, which was written and directed by the original The Exorcist writer William Peter Blatty. (Our opinion? Overall, it's kinda dull - except for two or three moments that are best compared as to how you feel when someone grabs your shoulder while walking down a deserted street. Still - it ain't Linda Blair vomiting pea soup.)
Reportedly, this film will be a prequel, dealing with the first time Father Merrin waged war with the big red guy - pre-pea-soup-in-the-face, you might say. We all know what happened to Merrin that dark night in Georgetown, so Wisher's task is to bring some kind of jeopardy to either Merrin's demon-infested patient or create interesting secondary characters. Horror films aren't too commonplace at the theater marquee in the closing years of the millennium - so here's hoping this film will get back to the creepy atmosphere that oozes from Friedkin's original film.
Rumors: Unknown.
Scoop Feedback:
July 22, 1997... [Page draft submitted by 'widgett'.]
July 16 - 22, 1997... Variety reports that the studio has assigned the writing duties to Wisher and wants production to start on this project next summer. [Scoop submitted by 'widgett'.]
July 29, 1997... Pramod Kalapa got the chance to ask Exorcist writer William Blatty if he had any involvement in the upcoming prequel. Blatty said that he had had no contact with anyone involved with the production so far. [Scoop sent in by Pramod Kalapa]
September 2, 1997... [Thanks to 'heygary' for pointing out the real way Merrin died...you sick man.]
April 19, 1998... William Wisher is off the project. William Peter Blatty is now writing and set to direct this next installment which will take place 20 to 100 years before the first the events of the Exorcist happened. [Thanks to Steve Carson and 'Widgett'.]
October 8, 1998... Yesterday evening, William Friedkin, director of the original Exorcist was at E! Online for their Horror 101 Film School. Many students asked about his thoughts on the upcoming prequel, and well, he didn't speak too kindly of any of the other Exorcist films, this one included. "I wouldn't even watch it," he said of the prequel. Of the people behind the sequels, "...they're all ripoff artists...I would no sooner direct a sequel than I would jump off the roof of this building." He likens the idea of another chapter of the series to a 15-car collision, complete with bodies lying around. He says he wouldn't want to see that, either. So...tell us how you really feel there, Mr. F--don't hold back, okay? [Special thanks to E! Online for their Horror 101 chats; reported by Widgett]