The Exorcist franchise faces a new setback as director David Gordon Green departs from the upcoming sequel, The Exorcist: Deceiver. Green, who directed The Exorcist: Believer, leaves to focus on other projects. This news comes after The Exorcist: Believer, an attempt to reboot the iconic horror series, received mixed reviews and underperformed at the box office, with domestic earnings of $65.5 million against Universal's $400 million investment for the rights. The sequel's release date of April 18, 2025, has been removed, and Universal plans to fill the empty slot with a Michael Jackson biopic. The future of The Exorcist's planned trilogy remains uncertain as the search for a new director begins.

Who was initially set to direct The Exorcist: Deceiver before leaving the project?

Director David Gordon Green was initially set to direct The Exorcist: Deceiver before deciding to leave the project to prioritize other work.

The Exorcist series is a cornerstone of horror cinema with the original film from 1973 directed by William Friedkin based on the novel by William Peter Blatty. It is renowned for its chilling story of demonic possession and was groundbreaking for the horror genre, earning ten Academy Award nominations. The franchise has since seen several sequels and prequels, with varying degrees of success, and the original film remains a cultural touchstone for both its storytelling and effects, often regarded as one of the greatest horror films of all time.