Summary
The Exorcistfranchise will continue expanding with a new movie to be directed by Mike Flanagan, and the plan for this next movie points to the franchise following the best modern horror trend. In 1973, William Friedkin terrorized audiences worldwide withThe Exorcist, based on the 1971 novel of the same name by William Peter Blatty.The Exorcistfollowed 12-year-old Regan (Linda Blair), who became possessed bya demon named Pazuzu.The Exorcistis regarded as one of the greatest horror movies ever and marked the beginning of a franchise.
Friedkin’s horror classic was followed by four movies and a short-lived TV series, and it has now come back to life with a reboot movie. TitledThe Exorcist: Believerand directed by David Gordon Green, the film follows Victor Fielding (Leslie Odom Jr.), whose 13-year-old daughter Angela (Lidya Jewett), and her friend Katherine (Olivia O’Neill), become possessed by an unknown force.The Exorcist: Believerwas intended to be the first movie in a new trilogy, but those plans have now been scrapped, and the next movie is following a modern horror trend that will save the franchise.
The Exorcist: Believer Ending Explained
The Exorcist: Believer builds to a final exorcism to deliver an ending with twists and sequel setup. Here’s everything that happens and what it means.
Mike Flanagan’s The Exorcist Movie Isn’t A Sequel To Believer
The Exorcist: Deceiver Is No Longer In The Franchise’s Plans
A newThe Exorcistmovie is now in the works with Mike Flanagan as director, writer, and producer, but it’s not a new version ofDeceivernor a sequel toBeliever. Instead, it’s described as a “radical new take”.
The Exorcist: Believerwasn’t the success Blumhouse needed to launch a new trilogy. WhileThe Exorcist: Believerperformed well at the box office, it was panned by critics, and it currently holds a 22% critics score onRotten Tomatoeswith a 59% audience score.The Exorcist: Believerwas called “disappointing” and “forgettable” by critics, who pointed out its lack of new ideas and scares as some of its biggest flaws, along with how it failed Ellen Burstyn’s Chris MacNeil.The Exorcist: Believerwas planned to be followed by two sequels, the first one beingThe Exorcist: Deceiver, but those plans have now been scrapped.
However,The Exorcistfranchisewill continue to expand withoutThe Exorcist: Deceiver. AnewThe Exorcistmovie is now in the works with Mike Flanaganas director, writer, and producer, but it’s not a new version ofDeceivernor a sequel toBeliever. Instead, Flanagan’sThe Exorcistmovie is described as a “radical new take” within the franchise’s universe, with Flanagan sharing his excitement to try “something fresh, bold, and terrifying”. Although no plot details were revealed, these bits of information about Flanagan’sExorcistmoviepoint to the franchise taking an anthology approach, following the steps of franchises likeEvil Dead.
The Exorcist Becoming An Anthology Can Save The Franchise
The Exorcist Will Benefit From Becoming An Anthology
Flanagan’sThe Exorcistfilm moving away from the rest gives him enough room for creativity and expanding the franchise beyond Regan, Chris, and their experience with demonic possession.
If there’s one thing thatThe Exorcistfranchise has proven is that not all horror movies need sequels.None of the movies that followed Friedkin’s film came close to its quality and success, andThe Exorcist: Believerfurther confirmed that sequels – either direct or legacy ones – aren’t the best way to expand the franchise. Flanagan’sThe Exorcistfilm moving away from the rest is exactly what the franchise needs to make a proper comeback, as it gives him enough room for creativity and expanding the franchise beyond Regan, Chris, and their experience with Regan’s demonic possession.
There’s a lot in the universe ofThe Exorcistto be explored, and Flanagan is an exciting addition to the next movie as he will surely surprise the audience with his “radical new take”, which could mean many things. Flanagan’sThe Exorcistcould focus on the side of the priest(s) rather than on the victim and their family, or could even focus on the demonic entity itself, giving it a completely different perspective. Becoming an anthology can makeThe Exorcistfranchise exciting, popular, and interesting again, as there will be something different in every movie, without relying on Regan and her past.
The Exorcist: Believer
The Exorcist: Believer is a direct sequel to the original 1973 supernatural horror film by director David Gordon Green and follows Victor Fielding, a father who was forced to raise his daughter alone after his wife died twelve years prior. When Victor’s daughter and her friend go missing, the supernatural events that surround their disappearance force him to seek out the only person to have dealt with these horrors before - Chris MacNeil.
