"The Exorcist: Believer" Gets New Trailer

Universal has unveiled a new trailer for “The Exorcist: Believer", the sequel to William Friedkin’s landmark horror movie “The Exorcist”.

The sequel sees Ellen Burstyn reprising her role as Chris MacNeil, the mother of a demon-possessed child. David Gordon Green, who recently revived the “Halloween” franchise, will direct the first of three planned movies.

The franchise is described as a continuation of the original 1973 movie, rather than a remake, which was directed by William Friedkin and adapted by William Peter Blatty based on his novel.

It was based on William Peter Blatty’s novel and tells the story of Regan (Linda Blair), a young girl who undergoes strange changes when possessed by a demonic entity, and her mother (Burstyn), an actress seeking the help of priests to help perform an exorcism on her daughter.

The movie sparked immediate controversy upon release, with some audience members reporting alleged heart attacks, miscarriages, and other visceral reactions to the movie’s graphic gore and intense religious scenes.

"The Exorcist" became a sensation following its release and has since grossed over $441 million, making it the highest domestic-grossing horror movie over a 48-year-long run. A massive commercial hit, “The Exorcist” went on to earn a best picture nomination at the Oscars and took home two trophies for best-adapted screenplay and best sound.

The original movie spawned four sequels over the years, though “Believer” forgoes that established chronology, much like Green’s rebooted “Halloween” trilogy. The new “Halloween” films saw Jamie Lee Curtis return as an older Laurie Strode, still haunted by the killer Michael Myers. The revival spawned two sequels, “Halloween Kills” and “Halloween Ends.”

“The Exorcist: Believer” features two demonic girls who become possessed after being saved from a supposed kidnapping. Burstyn’s MacNeil turns up at the doorsteps of their homes with a helping hand, having once had a possessed daughter of her own.

However, it’s uncertain whether the woman can truly save the two girls — covered in bloody Satanic markings and devouring pages of the Bible in the new footage.

Here’s the official logline: “Since the death of his pregnant wife in a Haitian earthquake 12 years ago, Victor Fielding (Leslie Odom, Jr.) has raised their daughter, Angela (Lidya Jewett) on his own. But when Angela and her friend Katherine (Olivia Marcum), disappear in the woods, only to return three days later with no memory of what happened to them, it unleashes a chain of events that will force Victor to confront the nadir of evil and, in his terror and desperation, seek out the only person alive who has witnessed anything like it before: Chris MacNeil.”

“Believer” will also star Ann Dowd, Okwui Okpokwasili, Jennifer Nettles, and Raphael Sbarge.

Executive producers on “The Exorcist: Believer” are Danny McBride, Green, Stephanie Allain, Ryan Turek, and Atilla Yücer. The Universal Pictures movie is produced by Blumhouse and Morgan Creek Entertainment, in association with Rough House Pictures.

“The Exorcist: Believer” is set to hit theaters on October 6, with "The Exorcist: Deceiver” hit theaters on April 18, 2025.