Universal Spends $400 Million On New EXORCIST Trilogy
Universal Pictures has closed a deal with Blumhouse and Morgan Creek to purchase worldwide rights for a new Exorcist trilogy. The deal is reportedly worth an eye-popping $400 million and it may see the films premiere on streaming service Peacock. The news of a potential Exorcist sequel first hit in December 2021.
Ellen Burstyn, the star of William Friedkin’s 1973 original is set to reprise her role in the film alongside Leslie Odom Jr. The fright pic is set to be directed by David Gordon Green and it will continue the storyline from Friedkin’s film. Odom Jr. will play a character who tracks down Burstyn after his child becomes possessed. Cue Mike Oldfield’s Tubular Bells.
Blunhouse’s Jason Blum had this to say about the deal:
“Blumhouse has always experienced incredible partnership from the team at Universal, and I’m grateful to Donna Langley and Jimmy Horowitz for believing in the vision of David’s film and having the foresight to be flexible with distribution, so the team feels top notch support through the lifeline of the film. They’re committed to theatrical exhibition and will also serving streaming viewers well by bringing an exciting franchise like the ‘Exorcist’ to Peacock too. I’m grateful to be working with David Robinson and the great team at Morgan Creek on this iconic franchise.”
The news comes after Green’s 2018 sequel to Halloween grossed more than $255 million globally and re-ignited the franchise. William Friedkin won’t be involved in this Exorcist reboot. The director took to Twitter to debunk a rumour of his involvement in the film: “There’s a rumour on IMDB that I’m involved with a new version Of ‘The Exorcist’. This isn’t a rumor; it’s a flat-out lie. There’s not enough money or motivation in the world to get me to do this.”
Source: Deadline
