The Exorcist: Believer Director Explains Ellen Burstyn’s Return to the Horror Franchise After a 50-year Absence

Summary

Director David Gordon Green efficiently satisfied Ellen Burstyn to reprise her function as Chris MacNeil in The Exorcist: Believer after a few years of turning down sequels. Burstyn was initially skeptical however was ultimately persuaded when the producers supplied her a considerably greater sum of money and she or he negotiated a scholarship program for gifted college students in return. While Linda Blair, who performed Burstyn’s on-screen daughter Regan within the unique movie, is credited as a advisor, there’s hypothesis that her character might make a shock return within the sequel.

“One woman lives, one woman dies.” Those eerie phrases uttered by 12-year-old Katherine (Olivia O’Neill) in The Exorcist: Believer are haunting. But whether or not the demon(s) is definitely Legion and/or Pazuzu stays to be seen. Regardless, an Exorcist legacy hero will return to attempt to save the day: Chris MacNeil. And director David Gordon Green mentioned attempting to tempt Ellen Burstyn again to painting the long-lasting character, even earlier than she’d learn the script for The Exorcist: Believer. Green mentioned in an interview with People:

“It was within the early levels of writing and no matter any ambition of a collaboration, I wished to introduce myself and say, ‘I’m stepping right into a legacy of a franchise that you are a monumental a part of, and I need you to know who I’m. And I need you to know I’m right here to respect this property and the IP and the character that you just created.’
And so, then that was a couple of telephone calls after I launched the thought of what I want to do with Chris MacNeil and the way I’d wish to reintroduce that character. And she’s clearly very skeptical at this level as a result of individuals have requested her dozens of instances to step again into the franchise.”

Related: 10 Movies to Watch While You Wait for The Exorcist: Believer

David Gordon Green Won Over Ellen Burstyn
Universal Pictures

Ellen Burstyn final appeared because the character of Chris MacNeil 50 years in the past within the unique Exorcist (1973) movie. And David Gordon Green pulled out all of the stops to get the actress to reprise the function as a result of she’s turned down numerous alternatives to seem in Exorcist sequels over the many years. Burstyn defined what modified her thoughts this time round in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter:

“You know, what occurred was I’ve turned down many variations of The Exorcist 2. I’ve mentioned no each time. This time they supplied me an entire bunch of cash and I nonetheless mentioned no. And then they shocked me, they usually got here again and mentioned, ‘We doubled the provide.’ I mentioned, ‘Okay, let me take into consideration this.’
I assumed, ‘That’s some huge cash. Let me give it some thought.’ The subsequent thought that got here to thoughts was: ‘I really feel just like the satan is asking my value.’ And the subsequent thought that got here to thoughts was, ‘My value is a scholarship program for gifted college students at our grasp’s diploma program at Pace University. That’s my value.’
So, I then went again and upped their up — and ended up getting what I need. And I’ve obtained a scholarship program for younger actors.”

Linda Blair performed Burstyn’s on-screen daughter, Regan, in The Exorcist again in 1973. And whereas Blair is alleged to have solely served as a technical advisor on the undertaking, don’t be shocked if the character Regan joins her mom within the movie. Yes, Green already admitted to Blair being a “advisor” on Believer, however Regan’s return might be a shock the director is hoping to maintain secret till the sequel lands in cinemas. The Exorcist: Believer opens in theaters on Friday, October 6.

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