More on The Exorcist TV Series Comes to Light
Steve Barton
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Earlier this week we told you about the rekindling of a proposed TV series version of The Exorcist. We did a bit of digging and have brought back some info regarding this year’s current pitch along with last year’s! Read on for details.
“[Writer of last year’s pitch] Sean Durkin was never under contract on ‘The Exorcist’ TV project,” says a source very close to the project whom we can confirm as rock solid. “Producer Roy Lee and Morgan Creek didn’t shop the concept until this year – earlier reports were inaccurate. In 2012, Durkin was approached by Lee to prepare an Exorcist pitch to go to networks. Durkin strung them along for months – and when he finally delivered his pitch, it was inadequate. In the interim, Durkin prematurely told Vulture he was to direct an Exorcist mini-series before Lee had hired him or he had delivered the aforementioned pitch. Durkin was in Europe working on Southcliffe at the time and had spent no effort on it, and although the producers had hopes for the award-winning filmmaker, Lee and Morgan Creek had too look elsewhere.”
“On the other hand, the word is that the Exorcist pitch package developed by new Fantastic Four writer, Jeremy Slater, is amazing – I understand Morgan Creek is very impressed with Slater’s grasp of the project and has the utmost confidence in him.
“Also early speculations that discounted William Peter Blatty as supportive of the television show have been widely exaggerated. The origin of Blatty’s negative response in 2012 lies in Durkin’s premature announcement. When Durkin made his initial comment to Vulture, Blatty had not been notified of the series in development yet. Blatty’s knee-jerk reaction was to deny the show existed – it wasn’t Blatty’s fault. It wasn’t seasoned to confer with Blatty yet. Since, Blatty has met with all interested parties and is very excited about the prospect of a series even meeting with Lee and Morgan Creek President David Robinson to show his support.”
Stay tuned, kids… and say your prayers!
A true cinema landmark, the theological thriller is one of the top ten box-office performers of all time. The Exorcist took 10 Academy Award® nominations, including Best Picture, and won two Oscars® for Best Adapted Screenplay, as well as winning for Best Sound. Subsequently, the film went on to become a multi-million dollar franchise. Directed by Friedkin (Oscar®-winner for The French Connection – Directing 1971) and written by William Peter Blatty, the film is based on his best-selling novel, which sold nearly 13 million copies domestically and was the #1 book on the New York Times Best Seller List for 57 weeks, 17 of them at #1.
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