Summary
- Director David Gordon Green clarifies that the demon in the new Exorcist movie is not Pazuzu, the primary antagonist of the original 1973 movie.
- The new movie follows Ellen Burstyn's character, Chris MacNeil, as she is sought for advice when two young girls go missing and appear to be possessed.
- While Green does not reveal the identity of the new demon, he suggests that knowledgeable demonologists may be able to identify it.
The director of The Exorcist: Believer has clarified whether the demon featured in the new movie is Pazuzu. Pazuzu is the primary antagonist of the original 1973 The Exorcist, though the possession in the iconic horror movie is frequently misattributed to the Devil himself. The legacy sequel, which sees original star Ellen Burstyn returning to the role of Chris MacNeil for the first time, will follow the character's advice being sought by a new distraught parent after a pair of young girls seem to be possessed after going missing.
IGN recently sat down for an interview with director David Gordon Green several months ahead of the official The Exorcist: Believer release date. During their conversation, they discussed the nature of the demonic presence in the new movie, and Green confirmed that it was not Pazuzu. However, he hinted that "studied demonologists might know" the entity in question. Read Green's full quote below:
We use a new demon, no Pazuzu. We feature a demon who studied demonologists might know.
Editor's Note: This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, and the movie covered here would not exist without the labor of the writers and actors in both unions.
Pazuzu’s Exorcist Legacy Explained
The Exorcist franchise has only existed in spurts and starts over the years, currently numbering five movies and one two-season television show. Even as it's shifted focus between characters, Pazuzu has been featured as the primary or secondary antagonist in every single entry up until now. After appearing in the Oscar-winning original, Pazuzu returned in 1977's Exorcist II: The Heretic, tormenting original possessee Regan MacNeil (Linda Blair) once more until she banished him, seemingly once and for all.
Despite this, 1990's The Exorcist III, which follows an investigation led by the legacy character Lieutenant Kinderman (George C. Scott), hinges on a killer who may be possessing the body of the deceased Father Karras (Jason Miller) and claims to serve Pazuzu. Pazuzu, or a demon implied to be Pazuzu, is also featured in the prequels Dominion and Exorcist: The Beginning, which are different versions of the origin story of Father Merrin (Stellan Skarsgård). The 2016 series The Exorcist also featured Pazuzu attempting to possess a grown-up Regan MacNeil (Geena Davis).
Despite lacking the consistent presence of Pazuzu, The Exorcist: Believer is staying true to the legacy of the franchise. Ultimately, the Exorcist sequels have been centered around following the threads of various characters from the 1973 original rather than focusing on Pazuzu's exploits specifically. The return of Chris MacNeil puts the new movie much more in line with the series than the return of Pazuzu likely would have.
Source: IGN
