Clearly Warner Brothers hasn’t learned from the “Exorcist prequel” debacle that earned the studio two prequel films, neither of which were all that fantastic. Instead of leaving the classic franchise alone, rumor has it that Warner Brothers is looking to remake the original 1973 film.
The rumor comes courtesy of IESB, who reported about comments made by Linda Blair at the recent International Horror and Sci-Fi Festival in Tempe. Apparently the original Exorcist star alluded to a remake of the classic film being in the works. Not surprisingly, neither Blair nor the fans seem happy.
I have to question the sanity of anyone who remakes a picture that’s recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences as being the “best” in almost any category. I’m not saying the academy is infalllable, but the award titles include “best” for a reason – this is a damn solid picture that stands the rigors of time. The original Exorcist was nominated for almost a dozen awards, winning two. That alone should protect the picture from being a remake target. The fact that it’s still one of the scariest films around should also keep the movie safe. Unfortunately, it’s also a profitable picture and in the studio’s eyes that means potential success in a remake, regardless of how more contemporary versions of the tale (or chapters in the same storyline) have been received.
