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Exorcist 4 (2001)
Plot: The movie would be set before the events told in The Exorcist. A young Father Merrin is working in Africa as a missionary when he gets called in for an exorcism.
News:
6 June, 2002
Due to continuing back problems, John Frankenheimer has pulled out of the production. Shooting is still scheduled to begin September 1st and a search is underway to find a new director.
25 March, 2002
Gabriel Mann has joined the cast. He will play Father William Francis, a priest that will help Father Merrin confront the devil.
1 March, 2002
Smilin' Jack Ruby, over at 13th Street, got a hold of the script and gave it a review. He loved the first three quarters of it but thought that the ending was infuriating.
But then, the third act becomes something out of a Dimension Film, something Joel Soisson would say was a good idea, something you'd expect to see in a fourth Prophecy film, not a fourth Exorcist movie. It almost made me throw the script across the room, in fact, as I really liked what they were going for up until that point. It's too bad, really, as there had obviously been so much effort expended in making the script really capture the tone and feel of the original movie and moreover, the original character of Father Merrin. Liam Neeson will do quite well by Merrin, but when Stigmata breaks out or whatever towards the end, it just loses everything for me.
You can read the entire review here.
What do you think? Talk about it on the Forums
23 January, 2002
Ryan Phillipe (Gosford Park) is final negotiations to join the cast. What role he will play is uncertain. Shooting gets underway in the spring in the US, Britain and Africa.
3 January, 2002
Musician Billy Crawford has joined the cast in one of the lead roles. Shooting is scheduled to begin in early summer 2002 on location in Britain and Spain.
What do you think? Talk about it on the Forums
30 October, 2001
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Liam Neeson (Star Wars Episode I, Rob Roy) will play the role of a young Father Merrin. The film is set in Africa shortly after World War II. Production will begin in the spring with shooting in the US, Britain and Africa.
20 September, 2001
Morgan Creek has put out another casting call for this prequel. If you go and get the part, be sure to let us know what you see.
WANT A CHANCE TO BE IN THE NEXT "EXORCIST" MOVIE?
Producers of the Prequel to the Classic Film Look to Cast Young Actor
Applicants must be male, between 15 and 18 years old and of African-American, Hispanic or mixed decent. Photos or snapshots should be sent to:
Exorcist Casting
MORGAN CREEK PRODUCTIONS
4000 Warner Boulevard
Burbank, California 91522Please include your name, address and evening telephone number. If you have any acting experience, tell us what you've been in.
Please send in your photos/snapshots and information by SEPTEMBER 30, 2001.
What do you think? Talk about it on the Forums
15 August, 2001
John Frankenheimer has been signed to direct this prequel to the 1973 classic. "We signed Frankenheimer on the strength of a very extensive rewrite by Caleb Carr and we're very happy to have an A-plus director," says executive producer Jonathan Zimbert. The prequel, he says, has received Blatty's blessing and "traces Father Merrin's first encounter with the Devil [taken from] about a page or so of The Exorcist novel."
Shooting is expected to begin next spring. At this time the cast has not been set.
2 February, 2001
As rumored, a prequel to the classic horror film The Exorcist is being prepared for filming. An open casting call is set for next Wednesday in LA. It has also been confirmed that the script was written by William Wisher (Terminator 2) with re-writes by Caleb Carr (author of "The Alienist"). As of yet no stars are attached to the project.
All Hell Set To Break Loose in Downtown LA
Producers of the prequel to the classic film The Exorcist hold open casting call
WHO: Hundreds upon hundreds of boys hoping to have a chance at fame.
WHAT: Open casting call for the lead role in the upcoming prequel to The Exorcist. Applicants should ideally be African-American males between 10 and 14 years old.
Simultaneously and separately, Power 106 FM will be awarding fabulous prizes to people who give their best impression of someone who is possessed by the Devil. Power 106’s Joe Grande will be present to “exorcize” all contestants.
The prequel to The Exorcist, traces the story of Father Merrin back to his first encounter with the Devil during his missionary work in Africa. The film is scheduled to begin principal photography in Spring 2001 in the U.S., England and Africa.
WHEN: Wednesday, February 7 from 4:30 – 7:30pm
WHERE: Inner City Arts - 720 Kohler Street, Downtown Los Angeles
THIS EVENT IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
MEDIA ONLY: Please RSVP your attendance to (818) 954-2786
INFO: Media: GREG MIELCARZ / 818.954.2786 or JUDY CHANG / 818.954.2768
Public Information Line: 818.954.2929
9 January, 2001
Sometimes bad ideas just refuse to go away. It's been over a year since the last time this project raised its ugly. Warner Bros. was still tinkering with the project that whole time. According to FilmForce, the studio has been quietly developing this movie for years but with the surprising success of the re-release of The Exorcist it has now been put on the fast track.
As has been suspected for some time the movie would be a prequel to the original. A younger Father Merrin is a missionary in Africa where he encounters his first possessed child. The movie would be shot on location.
The project is apparently working on a script by William Wisher. Tom McLoughlin had been attached to direct at one point but rumors now indicate that Warners wants a bigger name. What ever the case they hope to have the movie ready for a Halloween 2001 release.
Is this idea bad or what? Talk about it on the Forums
9 December, 1999
We've mentioned the possibility of yet another Exorcist movie before. Unfortunately it looks like it is inching closer to reality. The last one did the late George C. Scott a disservice by merely existing. This time around another fine actor is in line to have his reputation tarnished. Sir Anthony Hopkins is the apparent favorite for the lead.
This is just rumor at this point and really doesn't make too much sense. The last report indicated that this would be a prequel to the original movie. It would show Father Merrin traveling to Africa where he had to face the devil initially. If this is the case then Hopkins would likely be too old for the part.
A Warner Bros. exec apparently told the Daily Mirror "The working title is The Exorcist 2000 and it is hoped that it will be completed later in the summer. There is tremendous excitement being generated, but it really is all pretty top secret stuff - especially as negotiations with various big-name stars are at delicate stages." That of course says nothing at all.
1 November, 1999
Apparently the sheer startling badness of The Exorcist III was enough to disuade anyone from attempting another sequel. The current plan is that the movie will be instead a prequel to the original. Tom McLoughlin (Friday the 13th Part VI) has been attached to direct by Morgan Creek Productions. The script was written by William Wisher who hasn't exactly lit up the screen with recent scripts for The 13th Warrior and Judge Dredd. The story is about Father Merrin traveling to Africa and encountering the devil there. The plan is for filming to begin in Africa in the spring. As of yet there is no cast.
16 December, 1998
Also according to Horror Online William Peter Blatty is writing a script for a fourth in the series. The story concerns Father Merrin (Max Von Sydow again?) and his encounter with the Devil. This will be a prequel, taking place twenty years before the original. Blatty is also slated to direct. Yes! Another watered down sequel of a great movie looking to squeeze a few more bucks out of the public. I can't wait.
