Key Takeaways:
– Director Mike Flanagan plans to breathe fresh life into ‘The Exorcist’ franchise with a new film.
– Blumhouse Productions have sealed the deal to present Flanagan’s rendition of the horror classic.
– Despite previous sequels failing to impress, fans are intrigued to explore Flanagan’s take on the franchise.
A Ray of Hope for ‘The Exorcist’ Franchise
Renowned for crafting masterful narratives in the horror genre, director Mike Flanagan is prepping for a new challenge. How will he spearhead this endeavor? By refreshing ‘The Exorcist’ franchise that has largely disappointed fans since its original release. This much-loved horror film has had its fair share of sequels—five, to be precise. Unluckily, none of them managed to engulf viewers with thrills and chills as effectively as the first masterpiece did.
Back on Track with Mike Flanagan
Notwithstanding the failure of ‘The Exorcist: The Believer’ (2023), there’s a new wave of expectancy sweeping over the horror world, brought about by Flanagan’s engagement in the new project. With celebrated works like ‘The Haunting of Hill House’ (2018) and ‘Doctor Sleep’ (2019) under his belt, Flanagan has emerged as a potential savior for the horror genre.
Partnering with Blumhouse Productions, the team aims to present an innovative take on the franchise. Dismissing the last sequel, their new offering will set foot in the same universe but tell its original story.
Honoring the Legacy, Crafting the New
Flanagan holds a deep appreciation for the iconic film, crediting William Friedkin’s ‘The Exorcist’ as his primary influence to pursue filmmaking. Blumhouse Productions, the collaborators for his previous projects like ‘Oculus’ (2013), ‘Hush’ (2016), and ‘Ouija: Origin of Evil’ (2016), have come on board for this monumental task. With this strength in partnership, there’s a promising chance the upcoming sequel will do justice to the legendary franchise.
Addressing his excitement for the project, Flanagan commented, “The Exorcist is one of the reasons I became a filmmaker, and it is an honor to have the chance to try something fresh, bold and terrifying within its universe. Reuniting with my friends at Blumhouse, with whom I’ve made some of my favorite pieces of work, only makes this more exciting.”
Dealing with Previous Disappointments
Indeed, the legacy of the franchise had been losing its shine due to subsequent disappointing sequels. The situation was so dire that Friedkin himself had harsh words about one of the sequels, ‘Exorcist II: The Heretic’ (1977), expressing his utter disgust on ‘The Movies That Made Me’ podcast.
Amidst Doubt, Flanagan Fans Show Support
In contrast to the previous sentiment of disdain attached to new additions to the franchise, fans now seem eager to explore Flanagan’s rendition of ‘The Exorcist’. The mere attachment of Flanagan to the project instilled new-found optimism among movie enthusiasts, making them give the franchise another shot.
Flanagan’s track record surely provides enough credibility to look forward to this project. His partnership with Blumhouse only amplifies this anticipation. Let’s hope their collaborative effort manages to break the pattern of disappointing sequels and claime the franchise back to its former glory. Here’s to crossing our fingers for a mesmerizing addition to the horror world!
The current versions of ‘The Exorcist’ are available to rent/purchase on Prime Video.
