It’s unusual for a horror picture to survive the test of time, much less win an Oscar and 10 other nominations. Oscar-winning actress Ellen Burstyn was a major factor in the success of The Exorcist, which won the top spot at the box office in 1973 and went on to win other awards in 1974. Despite repeated requests from admirers, Burstyn has finally consented to return to Pazuzu’s domain after over 50 years. The actress told The Hollywood Reporter about the agreement she made to reprise her role in David Gordon Green’s follow-up.
A little over a year ago, it was claimed that Green, whose Halloween trilogy concludes this October, would be directing a new The Exorcist sequel.
This news sent shockwaves across the horror community. The news of Burstyn’s return as Chris MacNeil, an actress and the doting mother of Regan, is what truly threw fans into a frenzy (Linda Blair). Fans of Burstyn probably thought they would never see her again after two sequels and two prequels passed without her confronting her old foes. And what was it that finally persuaded the actress to reprise a part she last played over half a century ago? Burstyn sat down for an interview to talk about her partnership with Pace University and the Actor’s Studio in New York. Burstyn, who is co-president of the organisation along with Al Pacino, said that preparations are underway for a “series of Sunday screenings” in honour of the Studio’s 75th anniversary.
The Actor’s Studio has played a significant role in the actress’s life since 1967, providing her with both professional training and an artistic philosophy from the likes of Marlon Brando and Paul Newman. Her dedication to the Studio was a key factor in Burstyn’s vengeful response to MacNeil. Burstyn’s dedication to the Actor’s Studio and acting itself was what ultimately won her over, not Green’s initial generous financial offer or the second, doubled offer.
The actress negotiated a scholarship programme for Pace University students: “Well, here’s the deal: I’ve already rejected many adaptations of The Exorcist 2. Always, I’ve declined the offer. Even when they upped the ante and offered me a tonne of cash this time, I turned them down. In addition, they took me by complete surprise by returning to inform me that they had increased their offer by a factor of two. The response I gave was, “OK, let me think about this.” That’s a lot of money, I thought. Give me a moment to consider that! So then the idea, “I feel like the devil is asking my price,” sprang into my head. And then I realised, “My price is a master’s degree programme at Pace University with a scholarship programme for very brilliant individuals. The price I’m willing to pay is that. Next, I made a return visit, raised my demand, and finally succeeded in securing my desired outcome. Also, I support aspiring young performers by providing a scholarship.”
Burstyn continued, “The first of three Exorcist pictures that Green is making has been shot in its entirety.” Fans of Green will be pleased to know that she loved working with the director and will be returning to the set in November to wrap out some remaining scenes. She said, “…it’ll come out in 2024 on the 50th anniversary of The Exorcist, the original,” indicating that the picture has completed the editing process.
In 1973, Burstyn gave arguably the most convincing portrayal as Chris MacNeil in a demonic possession film. The Exorcist had certain cliche elements, such spinning heads and the pea soup vomit, yet it never seemed campy. Instead, Burstyn gave us a distraught mother who will do anything to protect her child. Chris MacNeil is not a typical “final girl,” but she is definitely not someone you want to cross. Acting and parenting her smart and feisty daughter Regan were just two of the many hats she wore in the film. Burstyn and Blair established a genuine mother-daughter relationship in the few sequences before Regan’s possession, which helped sell the terrifying exorcism scene. Burstyn has also been in films like Requiem for a Dream, in which she played the tragic role of Sara Goldfarb, and the Oscar-winning film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Kris Kristofferson.
She also played Sister SummersIsle in The Wicker Man and Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood. Hamilton’s Leslie Odom Jr. will join Ellen Burstyn in Green’s Exorcist remake as the father of a possessed kid who comes to MacNeil for aid. To create the trilogy for Blumhouse, Jason Blum is teaming up with Morgan Creek’s James Robinson and David Robinson.
On October 13, 2024, The Exorcist will be released in cinemas.