Acclaimed filmmaker David Gordon Green has stepped down from his role for the upcoming sequel, The Exorcist: Deceiver at Universal Pictures and Blumhouse. The film is a direct sequel to last year’s The Exorcist: Believer, which proved a critical flop. The search for a new director is in process.
With a modest budget of $30 million, The Exorcist: Believer went on to gross an impressive $137 global collection. However, the movie received negative reviews from critics. The Exorcist: Deceiver was initially slated to be released on April 18, 2025, but now it’s unset.
David Gordon Green Will No Longer Helm The Exorcist: Deceiver
Director David Gordon Green, who is at present engaged in the Ben Stiller movie Nutcrackers, as well as HBO comedy series The Righteous Gemstones‘s fourth season, has exited from The Exorcist: Deceiver, the sequel to last year’s The Exorcist: Believer.
The ambitious $400 million acquisition of The Exorcist franchise by Universal and Blumhouse in July 2021, with the intent to kickstart a new trilogy, is now facing uncertainty with Green’s departure. The studios aimed for a Halloween-like success story, grossing nearly $500 million globally across three films under Green’s guidance.
Failing to meet the expectation, The Exorcist: Believer only managed to earn $26.4 million on the opening day. The film grossed only $65.5 million in the domestic market and $136.2 million globally. Apart from the box-office failure, the film was not getting positive responses from critics as well. The critical reception was downright demonic, with a 22% rotten rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a chillingly low 44% audience score.
Fans React to David Gordon Green’s Exit
Following his departure from The Exorcist: Deceiver, fans took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to express their thoughts.
Such a shame he and the writers got it so wrong, threw it away. Didn’t take from the brilliance of the original. What made it so frightening. It should have been so simple.
— Nigel Stoneman (@nigelstonemanPR) January 11, 2024
Destroyed the Halloween franchise too.
— Johnny Two Ts (@JohnnyTwoTs) January 12, 2024
Glad to hear it 👏🏼
— AV The Last Targaryen (@AurelioVidal) January 11, 2024
How about they just scrap it
— Matt B (@Horseshoe_Pod) January 11, 2024
Here’s an idea, how about someone who actually understood THE ORIGINAL?!
— Kevin Chenault (@kevin_chenault) January 11, 2024
As of now, the movie has no release date as Lionsgate’s Michael Jackson biopic Michael is scheduled for the date for release.
Watch The Exorcist: Believer on Peacock.
