David Gordon Green, after resurrecting the enduring Shape with his Halloween trilogy, delighted aficionados of John Carpenter’s seminal 1978 slasher. They savored the rejuvenation of the timeless tale and the subsequent saga of final girl, Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis). The resounding success of these films undoubtedly spurred Green to embark on his next venture, a sequel to the iconic 1973 horror masterpiece, The Exorcist, directed by William Friedkin. Although a number of films have been unveiled in the wake of the original, including a series of prequels and sequels over the past five decades that left audiences and critics stunned, Green aims to replicate his strategy with Halloween, setting aside all prior lore and narratives related to The Exorcist, and instead progressing directly from the initial film. Green and his crew have now been given the go-ahead for their project, with the second installment of his envisioned trilogy, The Exorcist: Deceiver, slated for release on April 18, 2025.
If you joined the throngs of movie-goers who rushed to cinemas this past weekend to watch Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, you may well have been privy to the first screening of the trailer for The Exorcist: Believer. For those not included in that audience, the official trailer has been unveiled today, potentially offering an even more harrowing and gruesome experience than the original film. In Believer, Victor Fielding (Leslie Odom Jr.) faces a crisis as his daughter, Angela (Lidya Jewett), and her friend Katherine (Olivia Marcum) begin to display disturbing and ominous behaviors following a three-day absence in the woods, with no recollection of their wilderness experience. Desperate and unable to find aid, Victor and Katherine’s mother (Jennifer Nettles) seek assistance from perhaps the only individual who can help – Chris MacNeil (Ellen Burstyn).
The film also features Ann Dowd (Hereditary), Okwui Okpokwasili (Madeline’s Madeline), and Raphael Sbarge (Once Upon a Time). While Burstyn reprises her role as Chris MacNeil, known to Exorcist fans as the desperate mother who would stop at nothing to free her daughter, Regan (Linda Blair), from a malevolent force, Blair’s participation in any of Green’s forthcoming sequels remains uncertain.
Image via Warner Bros. Pictures
RELATED:
10 Films with Doomed Productions, Ranging from ‘The Exorcist’ to ‘The Twilight Zone’
Preserving the Legacy
Upon viewing the chilling trailer for Green’s The Exorcist: Believer, it’s apparent that Universal Pictures chose the right director for the project. Inspired by William Peter Blatty’s novel, the Friedkin-directed film not only claimed a place among the pantheon of horror classics but also secured the honor of being the first film of its genre to earn a Best Picture nomination at the Academy Awards. Those desiring a nostalgic scare can anticipate the re-release of The Exorcist on 4K, Blu-ray, and digital formats this autumn, in celebration of its 50th anniversary.
Experience the premiere trailer for The Exorcist: Believer below, and witness the horror exclusively in cinemas on October 13.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about horror classics
What is the release date for ‘The Exorcist: Deceiver’?
The release date for ‘The Exorcist: Deceiver’ is April 18, 2025.
What is the premise of ‘The Exorcist: Believer’?
‘The Exorcist: Believer’ follows the story of Victor Fielding, played by Leslie Odom Jr., who faces a troubling situation when his daughter, Angela, and her friend Katherine begin to exhibit strange and sinister behaviors after being lost in the woods for three days with no memory of the events. Unable to find help elsewhere, they turn to Chris MacNeil (Ellen Burstyn) for assistance.
Is ‘The Exorcist: Deceiver’ a sequel to the original 1973 horror film?
Yes, ‘The Exorcist: Deceiver’ is a sequel to the original 1973 horror film, ‘The Exorcist.’ Director David Gordon Green will be disregarding all other ‘The Exorcist’-based lore and continuing the story directly from the events of the first film.
Will Linda Blair reprise her role as Regan in Green’s upcoming sequels?
The text does not provide information on whether Linda Blair will return to portray Regan in any of David Gordon Green’s upcoming ‘The Exorcist’ sequels. The information about her involvement remains uncertain.
What accolade did the original ‘The Exorcist’ film achieve?
The original ‘The Exorcist’ film, directed by William Friedkin and based on William Peter Blatty’s novel, gained a spot among horror classics and became the first-ever film of its genre to receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture.
When will ‘The Exorcist’ be re-released?
In honor of its 50th anniversary, ‘The Exorcist’ will be re-released on 4K, Blu-ray, and digital formats in the fall.
Who else is starring in ‘The Exorcist: Believer’?
Apart from Leslie Odom Jr. and Ellen Burstyn, the film also features Ann Dowd, Okwui Okpokwasili, and Raphael Sbarge in various roles.
More about horror classics
- The Exorcist: Deceiver IMDb Page
- [The Exorcist: Believer Trailer](link to the official trailer)
- Halloween Trilogy – IMDb
- The Exorcist (1973) – IMDb
- William Friedkin – IMDb
- Ellen Burstyn – IMDb
- Leslie Odom Jr. – IMDb
- Jennifer Nettles – IMDb
- Ann Dowd – IMDb
- Okwui Okpokwasili – IMDb
- Raphael Sbarge – IMDb
- [The Exorcist: Deceiver Release Date Announcement](link to the release date announcement)
- [The Exorcist: Deceiver Trailer Release](link to the trailer release)
- Universal Pictures
- William Peter Blatty – IMDb
2 comments
halloween trilogy was awesome, david gordon green rocks! now he’s doing the exorcist too?? wow! believer trailer looks creepy af!
i hope linda blair returns, exorcist won’t be same without her! green’s got big shoes 2 fill after friedkin’s masterpiece, fingers crossed!