“She Came To Set”: Linda Blair’s Involvement In The Exorcist: Believer Clarified By Director

The Exorcist: Believer director David Gordon Green reveals that Regan actor Linda Blair played an important role during the making of his upcoming sequel. Released in 1973, William Friedkin’s The Exorcist introduces Blair as Regan, a young woman possessed by a powerful demon. After several sequels, the first of which saw Blair reprise her role, Green is now set to continue the story in his own trilogy for Blumhouse.

Ahead of The Exorcist: Believer‘s release date next month, Green reveals to Total Film (via GamesRadar) that Blair was present on the movie’s set. While she won’t be appearing on-screen, Blair proved instrumental to the production in another key way. Check out Green’s full comment below:

“She came to set because she was an advisor on the movie. I was really lucky to have her read the script, but she was not interested in a significant role and stepping back into that.

“We brought her in as an advisor because we’re dealing with young people, and we want to take them to dangerous places safely.”

Should Regan Have Returned In The Exorcist: Believer?

Blair was a key part of the original film, and she would return as Regan for the sequel, The Exorcist II: The Heretic. The character would ultimately appear once more in the short-lived Exorcist TV show, where she was instead played by Geena Davis. Clearly then, Regan has been crucial to many iterations of the franchise, and her legacy is set to live on in the new movie.

The Exorcist: Believer has been described as a direct sequel to the 1973 original, meaning it will seemingly ignore the events of all the other movies. Ellen Burstyn will be returning as Chris MacNeil, Regan’s mother, and the demon Pazuzu will be returning as well. The Exorcist: Believer trailers have also teased a tone and visual style that is very reminiscent of Friedkin’s original movie, meaning a return from Regan may not have gone amiss.

That being said, however, the new sequel seems to be focusing on building out a new story with new characters. Although some key figures are returning, the story for the film will revolve around a father, played by Leslie Odom Jr., who connects with Chris after his daughter and her friend both become possessed. By not bringing Regan back, the character gets to enjoy peace after her traumatizing possession, and The Exorcist: Believer also gets to focus on a new generation of protagonists who can carry the franchise forward for the two planned sequels.