Get ready for heads to spin. The folks at FOX are bringing the The Exorcist to the small screen in the form of a weekly television series debuting on September 23rd. In the meantime – as first reported by DreadCentral – they’ve released 3 new teaser trailers to tantalize us and hopefully compel us to tune in this fall.
Inspired by William Peter Blatty‘s 1971 novel and the Academy Award-nominated 1973 film of the same name, The Exorcist series is being billed as “a propulsive psychological thriller following two very different priests tackling one family’s case of horrifying demonic possession.”
As with the real-life timing of the series, the show’s story is set 40 some years after the events of the novel and film, and while it acknowledges the existence of the original tale, it follows a new story of its own, with all new characters.
Writer and executive producer Jeremy Slater told The Hollywood Reporter “[We’re] trying the same approach as Fargo where, here’s a show that takes place in the same universe as the original film, same tone, same mentality, but brand new characters and a brand new story… If you enjoyed the movie Fargo you are probably a fan of the television series. That’s really been the goal for this show.”
The new series stars Alfonso Herrera (Sense8, The Chosen) as Father Tomas Ortega, “the new face of the Catholic Church: progressive, ambitious and compassionate,” Ben Daniels (Flesh and Bone, House of Cards ) as Father Marcus Brennan, “a modern day Templar Knight, an orphan raised since childhood by the Vatican to wage war against its enemies,” and Geena Davis (Commander in Chief, Thelma & Louise, Beetlejuice) as Angela Rance, a mother plagued by recurring nightmares who believes there is a demonic presence in her house that is growing stronger by the day. The series also features Alan Ruck (Spin City, Ferris Buellers Day Off), Brianna Howey (Scream Queens), Hannah Kasulka (The Fosters), and Kurt Egyiawan (Skyfall, Beasts of No Nation)
Directed by Rupert Wyatt (Rise of the Planet of the Apes), the pilot episode of The Exorcist will screen for fans at the San Diego Comic-Con convention on Friday, July 22nd.
For everyone else, the series premieres on Friday, September 23rd on FOX.
We here at ScarePop had the opportunity to view the pilot episode at a press screening last month, and we were definitely impressed by the cinematic quality and scare factor of the show, along with some strong performances by the cast.
Stay tuned for our full review soon, but in the meantime, check out the creepy new teasers and the main trailer for FOX’s The Exorcist and tell us what you think!
Full Synopsis:
Directed by Rupert Wyatt (“Rise of the Planet of the Apes”), THE EXORCIST is a propulsive psychological thriller following two very different priests tackling one family’s case of horrifying demonic possession. FATHER TOMAS ORTEGA (Alfonso Herrera, “Sense8,” “The Chosen”) is the new face of the Catholic Church: progressive, ambitious and compassionate. He runs a small but loyal parish in the suburbs of Chicago. He has no idea that his quiet life is about to change forever. Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, another priest finds himself locked in a life-and-death struggle with evil. FATHER MARCUS BRENNAN (Ben Daniels, “Flesh and Bone,” “House of Cards”) is a modern-day Templar Knight, an orphan raised since childhood by the Vatican to wage war against its enemies. Father Marcus is everything Father Tomas is not: relentless, abrasive and utterly consumed by his sacred mission. Caught in the middle is the RANCE family, members of Tomas’ parish. On the surface, they’re a normal, suburban family, but all is not as it seems in this household. The patriarch, HENRY RANCE (Alan Ruck, “Spin City,” “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”), is slowly but surely losing his mind. Eldest daughter KATHERINE (Brianne Howey, SCREAM QUEENS) has become a recluse who refuses to leave her room. Her younger sister, CASEY (Hannah Kasulka, “The Fosters”), thinks she’s hearing strange noises coming from inside the walls. And mother ANGELA (Academy Award and Golden Globe winner Geena Davis, “Commander in Chief,” “Thelma & Louise”) has been plagued by recurring nightmares, each more frightening than the last. Angela believes there is something in the house, a demonic presence, growing stronger by the day. Desperate, she begs Father Tomas for help, unwittingly setting the naïve young priest on a collision course with Father Marcus. Separately, each faces an insurmountable task, but together they become the only hope against an evil force that has been mobilizing for centuries.
PRODUCTION COMPANIES: 20th Century Fox Television, Morgan Creek Productions
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Jeremy Slater, Rolin Jones, James Robinson, Barbara Wall, David Robinson, Rupert Wyatt, Roy Lee
WRITER: Jeremy Slater
DIRECTOR: Rupert Wyatt
CAST: Alfonso Herrera as Father Tomas Ortega, Ben Daniels as Father Marcus Brennan, Geena Davis as Angela Rance, Brianne Howey as Katherine Rance, Hannah Kasulka as Casey Rance, Kurt Egyiawan as Brother Bennett
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