The Exorcist Revisited: Director Addresses the Mystery Surrounding the Demon's Identity

Summary

Director David Gordon Green clarifies that the demon in the new Exorcist movie is not Pazuzu, the primary antagonist of the original 1973 film.

In the film, Ellen Burstyn's character, Chris MacNeil, embarks on a quest for guidance after two young girls vanish under mysterious circumstances and show signs of being possessed.

Although Green keeps the new demon's identity a secret, he hints that experienced demonologists might possess the ability to recognize it.

The director of The Exorcist: Believer has clarified that the demon featured in the new movie is not Pazuzu, the primary antagonist from the original 1973 film. While many mistakenly attribute the possession in the iconic horror movie to the Devil himself, the new movie will focus on original star Ellen Burstyn's character, Chris MacNeil, who will be sought out for guidance by a distraught parent after two young girls go missing and exhibit signs of being possessed.

During an interview with IGN, director David Gordon Green discussed the nature of the demonic presence in the upcoming film. He confirmed that the entity in question is not Pazuzu but hinted that expert demonologists might have knowledge about it. Read Green's full quote below:

We use a new demon, no Pazuzu. We feature a demon who studied demonologists might know.

Pazuzu’s Exorcist Legacy Explained

The Exorcist franchise has had a sporadic history, with a total of five movies and a two-season television series released so far. However, in each and every installment, Pazuzu has played the role of either the main or secondary antagonist. Following its appearance in the critically acclaimed original movie, Pazuzu made a comeback in Exorcist II: The Heretic (1977), where it once again tormented Regan MacNeil (portrayed by Linda Blair), the girl originally possessed, until she successfully banished the entity, seemingly for good.

However, The Exorcist III, released in the 1990s, revolves around an investigation led by Lieutenant Kinderman (played by George C. Scott). The plot centers on a killer who might be possessing the deceased Father Karras (portrayed by Jason Miller) and claims to serve Pazuzu. It is worth noting that Pazuzu, or a demon associated with Pazuzu, is also depicted in the prequels Dominion and Exorcist: The Beginning. These movies provide differing versions of the origin story of Father Merrin (played by Stellan Skarsgard). In the 2016 series The Exorcist, Pazuzu attempts to possess an adult Regan MacNeil (played by Geena Davis).

Despite the limited presence of Pazuzu, The Exorcist: Believer remains faithful to the franchise's legacy. The sequels to The Exorcist have mainly focused on following the journeys of various characters from the original 1973 film, rather than solely focusing on Pazuzu's actions. The inclusion of Chris MacNeil in the new movie aligns it more closely with the series' overall narrative than a return of Pazuzu would have.

Source: IGN