David Gordon Green Departing 2025 ‘Exorcist’ Sequel, Search Underway for New Director
The rebooted Exorcist franchise has hit another dramatic crossroads as Universal and Blumhouse search for a new director.
David Gordon Green is departing the sequel to The Exorcist: Deceiver as he focuses on his production of Nutcrackers starring Ben Stiller, as well as season four of HBO’s The Righteous Gemstones.
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The Exorcist: Deceiver was set to hit theaters on April 18, 2025, but is now unset. Instead, Universal will use that date to handle the international rollout of Lionsgate’s Antoine Fuqua-directed Michael Jackson biopic Michael.
Last year, Green’s The Exorcist: Believer was a major disappointment at the box office. Universal shelled out a huge $400 million for rights to the iconic horror franchise and planned a trilogy of films. Believer topped out at $136.2 million globally, including just $65.5 million domestically.
Ahead of its release, Green himself cast doubt on his return.
“My intention is just to start making things, and as those plans come together, if I find myself in that [The Exorcist: Deceiver] director’s chair, I’d be thrilled,” Green told The Hollywood Reporter.” But right now, I’m navigating it from a story perspective and looking at my realities of life as I pivot.”
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