Exorcist sequel loses its director and 2025 release date, months after Believer’s box office disappointment

David Gordon Green is no longer directing The Exorcist: Deceiver

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The Exorcist: Deceiver was all set to hit cinemas next year but, now, those plans have seemingly changed.

As perThe Hollywood Reporter, David Gordon Green – who helmedThe Exorcist: Believer– won’t return for the project. It is now undated, having previously been penciled in for an April 18, 2025 release date.

Reasons haven’t been given for Green’s departure, though The Exorcist: Believer wasn’t the revival that fans of the horror franchise would have hoped for.

It’s currently sitting at 22% on Rotten Tomatoes with critics and, while a $137 million box office return isn’t a complete disaster, it did little to recoup the $400 million Universal reportedly spent to snap up the rights to the series.

The Exorcist: Believer ending saw Ellen Burstyn’s Chris MacNeil and Linda Blair’s Regan reunite on-screen for the first time in 50 years.

Speaking to GamesRadar+ last yearabout the surprise moment, David Gordon Green said, “She hadn’t seen Ellen in many, many years. I wanted to film that reunion. So, we blindfolded Ellen and, on a note, we invited Linda in. And so that was one take and it was magic.”

The director added, “Half the crew [cried]. I remember looking around and the boom operator who didn’t know what was gonna happen or our focus puller was just jaw-on-the-floor because very few of us knew what we coordinated for that moment. It was amazing.”

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I’m the Senior Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, focusing on news, features, and interviews with some of the biggest names in film and TV. On-site, you’ll find me marveling at Marvel and providing analysis and room temperature takes on the newest films, Star Wars and, of course, anime. Outside of GR, I love getting lost in a good 100-hour JRPG, Warzone, and kicking back on the (virtual) field with Football Manager. My work has also been featured in OPM, FourFourTwo, and Game Revolution.

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