Five Questions You May Have Before Watching ‘Exorcist: The Believer

It has been 50 years since the film adaptation of William Peter Blatty’s novel ‘The Exorcist’ became the first horror film to receive a Best Picture nomination at the Academy Awards.

Indeed, it seems that horror has undergone significant changes since then, hasn’t it?

Here are five questions you might have before watching ‘Exorcist: The Believer’:

1: Do I need to have seen the other five Exorcist films to understand this one?

Good question! Actually, it would help if you’ve seen the original from 1973. ‘The Exorcist: Believer’ is a sequel to the original.

2: Will Linda Blair appear in ‘The Exorcist: Believer’?

No, she won’t. However, Blair is credited as the film’s technical advisor. In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Director David Gordon Green (known for the Halloween trilogy and Pineapple Express) confirmed that Blair was on set during filming and “helped us bring out excellent performances from the young actresses.” We can assume that Green is referring to Lidya Jewett (from Hidden Figures) and Olivia O’Neill, who played Angela and Katherine, the possessed girls.

Speaking of Blair, Green also mentions that ‘The Exorcist: Believer’ “alludes to her character in a number of ways.”

3: Will Ellen Burstyn appear in ‘The Exorcist: Believer’?

Yes, she will. She’s reprising her 1973 role as Chris MacNeil, the mother of the possessed Regan. She plays a pivotal role in the new storyline, as Angela’s father seeks her expertise in the rites and rituals of possession in various cultures.

Other actors in the cast include Leslie Odom, Jr. (known for One Night In Miami and Broadway’s Hamilton), Ann Dowd (from The Handmaid’s Tale and Hereditary), Jennifer Nettles (featured in Harriet and The Righteous Gemstones), and Norbert Leo Butz (known for Fosse/Verdon and Bloodline).

4: Is ‘The Exorcist: Believer’ the first of a planned trilogy?

Yes, it is! There’s already a scheduled release date for the second movie in the trilogy, titled ‘The Exorcist: Receiver,’ set to premiere on April 18, 2025.

5: Is ‘The Exorcist: Believer’ too scary for my kids?

Most likely. The film carries an ‘R’ rating due to “some violent content, disturbing images, language, and sexual references,” as reported by FilmRatings.com.

You might want to consider leaving the little ones at home for this one.