Actress Ellen Burstyn will reportedly reprise her role as the mother of demon-possessed child Regan in an upcoming “The Exorcist” reboot. The news comes from Deadline who reports that Universal Pictures and NBCUniversal’s streaming service Peacock, in partnership with Blumhouse and Morgan Creek, have closed a reported $400 million-plus deal to purchase worldwide rights for a new “Exorcist” franchise.
The reboot, which will reportedly be a trilogy, will be helmed by director David Gordon Green, who recently rebooted another classic franchise with a trilogy of films for Blumhouse, “Halloween.” The franchise will star Leslie Odom Jr. (“Hamilton”) as the father of a possessed child who seeks out Burstyn’s “The Exorcist” character for aid.
Like with “Halloween,” it appears that the new “The Exorcist” trilogy will retcon the existing film sequels and be a continuation of the original 1973 film, which was directed by William Friedkin and adapted by William Peter Blatty from his novel. “The Exorcist” spawned three sequels and a prequel, none of which Burstyn appeared in.
The first film in the new trilogy will be released theatrically on October 13, 2023. Subsequent installments could premiere on Peacock, according to a report in the “New York Times.”
