‘The Exorcist’ TV Series: Rupert Wyatt Will Direct The Pilot
Over a week agowe learnedFox was moving forward with a pilot based onWilliam Peter Blatty’s bookThe Exorcist. The new adaptation ofThe Exorcisthas been in the works for a few years now. Originally,Martha Marcy May MarlenedirectorSean Durkinwasa partof the series. Then, after Durkin’s departure, screenwriterJeremy Slater(Fantastic Four) stepped in to the write the adaptation.
The ExorcistTV series has picked up some more steam now, because Fox just enlistedRupert Wyatt(Rise of the Planet of the Apes) to direct the pilot.Deadlinebroke the news Wyatt will helm the first episode. The show has been called “as a propulsive, serialized psychological thriller following two very different men tackling one family’s case of horrifying demonic possession and confronting the face of true evil.” It’s been said the script is inspired by Blatty’s novel, but will bring “a brand new take on the material.” That balance worked forHannibal, so maybe it could work forThe Exorcist.
When Durkin was involved, this is how the show was described:
Unlike the iconic 1973 film, Durkin’s version of The Exorcist follows the events leading up to a demonic possession and especially the after-effects of how a family copes with it: In short, not well … and when medical and psychiatric explanations fail, the desperate family turns to the church, with Father Damien Karras finally brought in to attempt the exorcism.
Based on what we’ve read, it sounds like the project started from scratch once Durkin left. TheMartha Marcy May Marlenedirector was actually a great fit forThe ExorcistTV series, so his departure was a shame. He brought a level of drama and horror to his directorial debut that could’ve served this show well. Then again, maybe the powers that be didn’t want anExorcistshow to be so heavy. With Durkin onThe Exorcist, it’s fair to assume the series would’ve gotten dark.
For directorial duties, Wyatt is a fine choice. He has a lot of range as a filmmaker. WithRise of the Planet of the Apeshe revived a franchise, while his follow-up film,The Gambler, was a rare remake — a good one. The director was originally going to directGambitfor 20th Century Fox, but he left the project overcreative differences. Wyatt has a good eye for material, so his involvement inThe ExorcistTV series actually raises our expectations for this Fox program.
