Powerhouse horror producer Jason Blum pays tribute to the late William Friedkin, the iconic filmmaker behind the 1973 classic The Exorcist. Blumhouse, Blum’s production company, is currently working on a trilogy based on Friedkin’s masterpiece for Universal. In a statement obtained by FilmmakerFocus, Blum expresses his personal gratitude to Friedkin, acknowledging his immense impact on the horror genre and the broader cultural perception of horror films. Friedkin’s passing is a great loss, but his incredible body of work will forever be cherished.
Friedkin, aged 87, passed away in Los Angeles today. The cause of his death has not yet been disclosed. In his groundbreaking horror film The Exorcist, starring Ellen Burstyn, Max von Sydow, and Linda Blair, Friedkin tells the chilling story of a mother, Chris MacNeil (Burstyn), seeking the help of priests when her daughter Regan (Blair) becomes possessed by a mysterious entity. Burstyn will reprise her role in the upcoming trilogy, directed by David Gordon Green, known for his work on Halloween. The first installment, titled The Exorcist: Believer, is set to release on October 13th. The new film follows Victor Fielding (Leslie Odom, Jr.), who has raised his daughter Angela (Lidya Jewett) alone since the tragic death of his pregnant wife in a Haitian earthquake. When Angela and her friend Katherine (Olivia Marcum) mysteriously disappear in the woods and return with no memory of what happened, Victor seeks the help of MacNeil, the only person who has witnessed such evil before. The cast of Believer also includes Ann Dowd, Jennifer Nettles, and Norbert Leo Butz. The film is scripted by Green and Peter Sattler, based on a story by Scott Teems, Danny McBride, and Green, inspired by characters created by William Peter Blatty. Blumhouse’s Blum, along with David Robinson and James G. Robinson from Morgan Creek Entertainment, serve as producers, while McBride, Green, Stephanie Allain, Ryan Turek, and Atilla Yücer are executive producers.
While the third film in Green’s trilogy is yet to be titled or given a release date, the second installment, The Exorcist: Deceiver, is scheduled to open on April 18, 2025.
