The death of William Friedkin this week was undoubtedly a major loss to the film community, with the director having helmed such classics as Sorcerer, The French Connection and The Exorcist. Now, both the director and producer of the upcoming continuation of The Exorcist franchise, David Gordon Green and Jason Blum, are paying tribute to the director who created one of the most terrifying, genre-defining films ever.
In statements made available via Deadline, both David Gordon Green and Jason Blum recalled the impact William Friedkin had on their careers. As per Green, “William Friedkin was an inspiration to me. I am saddened that our community lost a brilliant artist. The Exorcist is one of the finest films ever made, along with The French Connection, Sorcerer and so many others. His bold and visionary work will influence filmmakers forever.”
Producer Jason Blum, whose Blumhouse Productions is behind The Exorcist: The Believer, said, “I am personally indebted to William Friedkin and saddened by his loss…More than any other filmmaker, he changed both the way directors approached horror films and also the perception of horror films in the broader culture. We are deeply saddened to hear of his passing and intensely grateful for the body of work he has left behind.”
Just two weeks ago, the trailer for The Exorcist: The Believer dropped, with vibes from the original coming at least from score cues and the appearance of Ellen Burstyn as Chris MacNeil. (Burstyn herself remembered Friedkin as “smart, cultured, fearless and wildly talented…a genius.”) And although William Friedkin had no involvement – and previously stated he had never bothered with any of The Exorcist’s sequels and so would presumably skip this planned trilogy – Greene did joke they would have liked him to do a rendition of “Tubular Bells.” The Exorcist: Believer arrives on October 13th.
Do you think The Exorcist: Believer will now serve as a tribute to the late William Friedkin? How do you think it will fit stylistically and quality-wise with the other films in the series? Give us your thoughts in the comments section below.