It has been reported that Ann Dowd (The Handmaid’s Tale, Hereditary) has joined the cast of Blumhouse’s The Exorcist revival trilogy. Ellen Burstyn, who previously played Chris MacNeil in the series, will return to reprise her role in the first feature, which will star Leslie Odom Jr. On October 13th, 2023, director David Gordon Green will take the helm of the Halloween reboot, which will mark the initiation of a new revival of the horror classic.
After an 18-year absence, The Exorcist will finally return to theatres after its cult status as among the greatest horror franchises of all time.
The series is based on William Friedkin’s 1973 classic about a 12-year-old girl who is possessed by a demonic entity and the battle to liberate her. To date, it has received 10 Academy Award nominations, including one for Burstyn’s performance in the film. While the films have been gone from theatres, the franchise has received some love in the form of the well-liked but under-watched Fox series set in the same world, which has received some attention. Following Halloween and other horror properties, Burstyn and Green are now on board, returning to the traditional setting with Burstyn along for the trip.
No word yet on what role Dowd will play in the sequel, but the film will follow Odom as a parent who seeks the aid of MacNeil, hoping to benefit from her expertise in defeating the terrible demon Pazuzu in the previous film, which she played. To her credit, Gordon Green had previously directed Dowd in the ensemble drama Our Brand Is Crisis with Sandra Bullock and Scoot McNairy and Billy Bob Thornton. Since her Emmy-winning performance in The Handmaid’s Tale as the very austere Aunt Lydia, actress Ann Dowd has made a name for herself in the horror genre.
For her role in Ari Aster’s Hereditary as a support group member known as Joan, she received high praise from critics & audiences alike. She also acted in The Manchurian Candidate and was nominated for a BAFTA for Mass, both of which were released more recently. The Independent, a thriller written and directed by Amy Rice, will be her next role. Scott Teems, Danny McBride, and Green crafted the story for the first reboot film in the trilogy, with the filmmaker also writing the script with Peter Sattler.
For Blumhouse, Jason Blum will collaborate with Blumhouse producers David Robinson and James Robinson. Executive producers include Green, McBride, and Couper Samuelson. To bring the trilogy to reality, Universal and Peacock have signed an over $400 million megadeal. The first instalment of The Exorcist revival is now under production.