Ellen Burstyn's Unbelievable Return: The Untold Story Behind Her Epic Comeback in The Exorcist: Believer

Summary

Celebrated filmmaker David Gordon Green has successfully persuaded Ellen Burstyn to reprise her legendary character in The Exorcist, half a century later. This remarkable achievement was accomplished through a profound partnership deeply influenced by Burstyn's own autobiography.

Burstyn's return serves as a testament to the pivotal role she plays in The Exorcist: Believer, a sequel that pays homage to her character and portrays her as the possible savior of girls afflicted by demonic possession.

Following his success in persuading Jamie Lee Curtis to participate in the Halloween trilogy, Green managed to convince Burstyn to overcome her initial hesitation in reprising her role in the lesser-appreciated Exorcist sequels. This further underscores the crucial importance of her involvement in the upcoming installment.

David Gordon Green, the director of The Exorcist: Believer and known for the recent Halloween trilogy, successfully persuaded Ellen Burstyn to reprise her role as Chris MacNeil after a five-decade hiatus. The Exorcist: Believer serves as a direct continuation of William Friedkin's groundbreaking horror classic from 1973. Burstyn originally portrayed the mother of Linda Blair's possessed character in The Exorcist, but did not participate in any of the subsequent, less successful sequels.

In a recent interview with Total Film (via GamesRadar+), Green discussed how he managed to convince Burstyn to join the new installment as Chris MacNeil. He explained that he found inspiration in Burstyn's autobiography, Lessons in Becoming Myself, which allowed him to gain a deeper understanding of the actress. Together, they worked collaboratively to develop a significant and meaningful role for her in the film. Here is what Green revealed about their collaboration:

Chris MacNeil's Importance In The Exorcist: Believer Explained

It's incredible. After reading her biography, I made it my mission to find a Hollywood icon who could step into the role she hasn't played in 50 years. It was a significant challenge. Her book not only inspired me with her perspective on life after the movie but also shed light on the obstacles and hardships faced due to the film's notoriety. As I got to know her better, we shared literature and ideas, shaping this character to hold a deeper meaning for Ellen, going beyond just revisiting Chris MacNeil.

In contrast to Green's previous success in convincing Jamie Lee Curtis to revisit her iconic horror role as Laurie Strode, Burstyn's situation was different. Despite her Oscar-nominated performance in the original Exorcist film, which also left her with a permanent spinal injury, she had no interest in reprising her character for the sequels, Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977) and The Exorcist III (1990).

Burstyn's decision to reprise her role as Chris MacNeil, despite declining previous sequels, emphasizes the significance of her character. In The Exorcist: Believer, the story revolves around two girls and their parents who are desperately seeking assistance with their demonic possession. They turn to Chris MacNeil, who had a similar experience fifty years ago. Instead of simply retelling the original story, The Exorcist: Believer is a sequel that honors the original by placing Burstyn's character at the forefront. She becomes their last hope in saving the girls from the clutches of demonic possession.