Blatty and Friedkin Talking Exorcist Remake
Some big news in the new issue of Cemetery Dance. In an interview with writer William Peter Blatty, the writer revealed that he’s been hard at work on an updated version of his classic fright flick The Exorcist.
Asked if he’d do anything different if he could start from scratch, Blatty responded, “”Yes and no. I would love to have been able to include the subplot involving Karl and his daughter Elvira which I did in my first draft, but that script ran to 172 pages, much, much too long.”
“But I might have it my way in the near future, inasmuch as I’ve written an Exorcist miniseries script that not only faithfully includes all the main elements of the novel, but also some rather spooky new material and scenes, as well as a totally new (and perhaps much more satisfying) ending. I’ve also updated it. Billy Friedkin has agreed to direct.”
My stance on remakes is well known around these parts, but if they actually had Blatty and Friedkin both back in their original production roles, I’d be interested in seeing what they’d come up with. I don’t think The Exorcist needs a remake or retelling, but if the two men who gave us the first film want to take another crack at it, they have my blessing.
Thanks to STYD for sharing this news.
Tags: Cemetery Dance, mini-series, remake, The Exorcist, William Friedkin, William Peter Blatty
November 14th, 2009 at 7:50 am
No.No.NO.NO.NO.NO.
November 14th, 2009 at 8:46 am
I have to say…I’m interested.
November 14th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
I’m not so sure about this one. Audiences are a little different than they were nearly 40 years ago. It’s one thing to remake a slasher movie, it’s another thing to remake a classic film like The Exorcist.
November 14th, 2009 at 12:34 pm
The original ending is perfect (and no, I don’t mean the bullshit CASABLANCA ending of “the version you’ve never seen before”). I see no reason at all for this to exist. Never have I watched the original film and thought, “What this story needs is more subplots.” I hate it when creators revisit older works and forget what was so special about them in the first place.
Do not George Lucas THE EXORCIST.
November 17th, 2009 at 12:45 pm
I don’t know what’s more concerning…the remake or a miniseries? WTF?!