Controversial Exorcist: Believer Sequel: Unveiling Exciting Creative Twists!

Summary

Despite the disappointing reception of The Exorcist: Believer, the sequel The Exorcist: Deceiver is still on track for its planned release in 2025.

Believer did not meet box office expectations and received negative reviews. However, this has not impacted the release plans for Deceiver. Although Deceiver has a finished script, sources indicate that the creative approach might be revamped before production commences.

Content remains on track for the release of The Exorcist: Deceiver in 2025, despite the mixed reception of the recent film The Exorcist: Believer. Believer, intended as the first installment of a trilogy following the 1973 classic The Exorcist, tells the story of Father Victor Fielding (Leslie Odom Jr.) seeking help from Chris MacNeil (Ellen Burstyn) when his daughter and her friend become possessed. However, Believer fell short of its projected $30-$35 million domestic opening, opening with $26.5 million instead. The film also received poor critical reviews, scoring only 24% on Rotten Tomatoes.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the release plans for The Exorcist: Deceiver remain unaffected by the reception of Believer. Blumhouse and Universal, who acquired the distribution rights for the trilogy for $400 million, will continue with production as scheduled, and the sequel is currently set for release on April 18, 2025. However, sources close to the production suggest that the creative approach to Deceiver may be revised before production begins, despite having a completed script.

In What Ways Could The Exorcist: Deceiver Be Retooled?

The Exorcist: Deceiver and the third Exorcist legacy sequel are likely to continue due to the significant financial investment. It is unlikely that the studios will withdraw unless one of the movies suffers a major loss. However, that is not the scenario with The Exorcist: Believer, as it has already recouped its $30 million budget at the global box office. Despite this, it still has a long way to go in making up for the franchise's hefty $400 million price tag.

Fortunately for the studios, the stage has already been set for a fresh creative direction for the upcoming movie. In terms of the story, the ending of Exorcist: Believer does not necessarily leave viewers with a cliffhanger that guarantees the return of the main characters. Additionally, behind the scenes, director David Gordon Green, who was initially expected to helm the entire new trilogy, much like his previous trio of Halloween legacy sequels, has recently expressed doubts about his involvement in Deceiver. Furthermore, star Ellen Burstyn was officially attached to only one movie for her return.

Considering these factors, the key individuals in the cast and crew of Exorcist: Believer could largely be excluded from The Exorcist: Deceiver. To be successful, the new movie could adopt a similar approach to Believer by presenting a completely new possession story that takes place in the same universe, but with a renewed emphasis on a more commercially appealing storyline. There is also the potential for Linda Blair to reprise her role as Regan MacNeil, introducing a new legacy character that would serve as the focal point for the sequel's plot and could potentially captivate long-time fans of the franchise.

Source: THR