Virtually every movie fan has some sort of connection to the original The Exorcist film, with its legacy extending well past the horror genre. The sequels to the original film, on the other hand, aren’t as well-known by everyone, even though The Exorcist III has one of the best jump scares in cinema history. The Exorcist TV series showrunner Jeremy Slater is well aware of the third film’s legacy and aims to honor that installment in the upcoming season.
When speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, Slater explained, “There’s a moment from The Exorcist III that every horror fan knows and loves. We’re looking into how we can get that moment in our show this year. It involves a hospital. It’s the single best jump scare in horror movie history aside from Ben Gardner’s head coming out of the boat in Jaws,” Slater explained to The Hollywood Reporter.
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Another element from that third film that Slater hopes to incorporate into the show is the movie’s villain.
“Also, I love the idea of a demonic serial killer. We’re not exactly doing the Gemini Killer (Brad Dourif) this year with the new demon. But, I think you are going to see that this demon has a pattern and a methodology. It’s a boogeyman throughout history that has claimed a lot of notches on its belt. It’s nowhere close to being finished,” he added.
Considering the surprise success of the first season, many were shocked at the announcement that four of the main cast members wouldn’t be returning to the series. Slater, however, explained why the family targeted by possession in the first season is irrelevant to the show’s longevity.
“The DNA of our show is always going to be priests versus demons. I don’t think we’ll ever become a monster of the week show. I also believe in stories that have a beginning, middle and end,” explained Slater. “I think it’s always better to leave people wanting [more], as opposed to being the last person at the party after they turn the lights on. I would much rather figure out a natural end-point for the show and be working toward a satisfying ending than to just be spinning your wheels for as long as you can before they shut you down.”
The Exorcist premieres on FOX on Friday, September 29 at 9 p.m. EST.
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NEW YORK CITY – DECEMBER 19: "Toil and Trouble" – Elsbeth is thrown into the world of television after the showrunner of a long-running police procedural is brutally murdered in his office, and although it appears to be the act of a disgruntled fan, she begins to suspect the show's longtime star Regina Coburn (Laurie Metcalf) who yearns for artistic fulfillment. Meanwhile, Judge Crawford (Michael Emerson) continues to be a thorn in Elsbeth's side, on the CBS original series ELSBETH, Thursday, Dec. 19 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+ (live and on demand for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers, or on demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the episode airs). Pictured (L-R): Carrie Preston as Elsbeth Tascioni and Carra Patterson as Kaya Blanke. (Photo by Michael Parmelee/CBS via Getty Images)
