Rebooting THE EXORCIST: Behind The Scenes of the Prequel with Gary J. Tunnicliffe 

People always focus on the original on being the "scariest film of all time" instead of realizing how insanely brilliant the movie is as a drama.

"The Exorcist" needs a reboot like "Psycho" needed a reboot, which is to say it _really_ doesn't need a reboot. Hollywood should try something unexpected, like, coming up with new ideas.

I love these kind of interviews, would have loved to heard more stories about his experiences. Thank you Midnights Edge.

Love these Gary Tunnicliffe interviews so much - have listened to all of them too many times 😂

Much like underrated masterwork In the Mouth of Madness, The Exorcist III: Legion in one of my top 5 horror movies of all time. Nice to hear some appreciation for it. This was very interesting, thanks.

I still watch The Exorcist periodically here and there, it's such a great movie has a certain mood and tone to it

Exorcist 3 is so freaking good I’m not kidding

I could listen to this guys for hours. If there would be a follow-up to this interview (perhaps after more news about the newly planned prequel got out), I'd love to see it. And I really appreciate Tunnicliffe's honesty. You can feel he just tells it like it is and doesn't just pick the most popular opinion. He easily could've pandered to the "Schrader got duped"-version that got spread by the press (and some movie snobs). But he stood loyal to Harlin, even if that meant defending a director who never was very popular among movie fans. Gotta admit, after listening to Tunnicliffe, this rekindled my interest in Harlin's work. Didn't follow his career in the last 10-20 years, so there's some stuff to catch up on. "12 Rounds", "Skiptrace" and "Bodies at Rest" sound like fun. Also his most recent project "The Misfits" has a very interesting cast (Pierce Brosnan, Tim Roth, Nick Cannon, Jamie Chung, Hermione Corfield etc.). I also can recommend some of Harlin's earlier work. Always liked "Prison" from 1987. Not a classic by any means, but an entertaining horror movie in a fresh setting with very creative special effects. Even Harlin's feature debut "Born American" could be an interesting curiosity for fans of C-grade action with guys like Mike Norris and David Coburn. So thanks for those inspirational 26 minutes! :-) Greetings from Germany.

I watched the Hellraiser videos again before watching this. I could listen to Gary forever. He comes across as such a nice guy! I can't wait for more interviews with him. He's the reason I discovered this awesome channel and I've been a subscriber since.

You can't remake perfection. All you need is The Exorcist - The Ninth Configuration - Exorcist III. Leave em be.

Great to hear Gary back on ME as he is always delightfully frank about what went down behind the scenes.

I remember his Hellraiser interview, I enjoyed it. I think its why I subbed to you originally.

great interview! Thanks Andre and Gary!

What a great guest Gary is. Really enjoyed this.

Great to see Gary again.you guys should get him on more.

Incredible interview!

"The Exorcist" already was brought back in a very interesting way with the *TV series* from 2016, which sadly got cancelled after 2 seasons. Still highly recommended for horror fans. Great acting, great direction and special effects. Also it is *not* a reboot/remake/prequel/preboot or whatever. No, this is a straight continuation of the story told in the first "Exorcist" movie. At least in the first season, which is pretty self contained. Greetings from Germany.

Outstanding interview. Love your attention to details. I think these Studios need to leave some of these classics well enough alone as they wind up making more of a mess than a better film. Keep up the great work.

Actually there was 4 total that worked on both films: Stellan Skarsgard, Ralph Brown who played Sgt. Major, Julian Wadham who played Major Granville & Andrew French who played Chuma.

Speaking of alternate cuts i really want to see the original cut of Crow: City of Angels.

I recently saw a vlog about how Elvis has vanished from Las Vegas. No more impersonators, no more tribute shows, no billboards using Elvis nostalgia. Elvis is over. That made me realize even more than before how pathetic it is that Hollywood keeps rehashing all that old shit nobody cares about anymore, rather than come up with something new.

Nice interview. Perhaps should take up the guest on his offer to share "his hours of stories and memories". Could perhaps form part of a multi-video interview or perhaps several livestreams? Could be something interesting for filmmakers, scriptwriters, makeup people and just common fans in this community? We always hear about directors, producers and writers when they share knowledge and experience, but never guys like these. Would love to hear what he says about cast and crew. Also, I'm surprised that Exorcist The TV series wasn't brought up in this discussion? ;)

Gratitude 🙏🏻

Exorcist and current design by committee movie style will be awful.

I liked them both, its neat to have two points of view on the same movie, I hope the justice league cut is as different.

So I’ve not watched the exorcist at least never from start to finish, I’ve likely seen 99.9% of it just never in one sitting but I probably know more about the lore behind it than 99% of the people that have seen it all the way though, I’m just not a horror films person I’m a big old wuss and I’m proud of it, I make Scooby and shaggy look like gunoh heros. Now I’ll be nice and say while I agree with most of the people in the comments that are saying it dosnt NEED a reboot I will say it would be interesting to see what they can do with the story with today’s special effects but with a big old caveat of if they do it well, I mean I could see quite a few people been over the moon if someone like Guillermo del Toro was directing it BUT it is highly unlikely it will be of that level of quality.

Renny Harlen was one of the few to survive Cutthroat Island. That says something.

Always a great video when Gary drops in. I'm 100% against a new Exorcist movie though.

This would be sacrilege! The exorcist is perfect, timeless in its themes and doesn’t need a reboot

Gary comes across as a great guy

The TV series is a direct sequel to the original film ... If they do that again, the big draw would be Linda Blair. Not just a remake of the first story but with her as the mom this time. Actually have Linda Blair playing Pazuzu again and even more dangerous. Make her look like the statue from the start of the original film.

What happened to the half assed " remake"that was on Fox several years ago......

Gary's a top lad

The theatrical version was 10X better then the re-edit that’s on blu ray and dvd. Can’t even find the theatrical cut anywhere these days

This was a fun listen. Though I have to wonder, what can you do with the Exorcist at this point? Wouldn't it just be better to carry forward with original work inspired by it with their own characters and lore?

More content like this, please! (Less constant complaining about Star Wars, Star Trek, etc.)

Btw, anyone who likes the Exorcist should check out the series Fox made a few years back. It’s so surprisingly good. It honored the original movie the same way The Sarah Conner Chronicles honored Terminator and T2.

For Crist sakes Hollywood stop rebooting classics! I thought it was bad enough that CW doing a live action powerpuff girls TV series now this? Hollywood is really desperate at this point

Here’s my thing, don’t remake or re tell the first movie. That’s one of the very few horror movies that I consider to be prefect. If they’re going to do it, (which they are) it should be an investigation on the actual demon that possess Reagan. Now, that would be interesting.

Y'know, the movie already adapts the book as closely as possible (Blatty wrote both after all) so I don't know how you could make it any closer. The movie just cuts a couple of sub plots that weren't important.

A reboot of "The Exorcist" can only go one of two ways. Catering to PC anit-culture or outright offending it. It couldn't be made to please everyone. I vote for offending it.

Just take all the things they were going to add to the reboot and make their own possession film.

You reserve reboots for films that could have been great but missed the mark, and are therefore worthy of a do-over. You cannot reboot perfection.

Josh Trank could direct.

I wonder what Gary thinks of the new Hellraiser?

9:08 They were gonna use the sets from _The Flintstones 2: Viva Rock Vegas_ as the set for Africa.... What????

the most confusing timeline ever, there already seems to be some prequels, 2 of witch are almost the same. I very much appreciate you guys clearing that up for me. thanks Gary and MEdge

I remember at the time it came out the screenwriter Caleb Carr was already trashing Schrader in public. Particularly for the look of the film. He railed against the fact that Schrader hired Vittorio Storaro to shoot it, who is a master of the use of colour, then basically directed him to shoot the movie in the most bland way possible. As for Morgan Creek whenever I hear their name I always think of the story Clive Barker told about going to meet James Robinson about NIGHTBREED. Robinson said to him: "You're gay, right?" Clive said yes. Robinson said: "This isn't going to be a gay picture, is it?" And in many ways it definitely is.

Andre: "The defunct Schrader cut was the Snyder cut of it's day" Gary: "I said something like 'This is awful'" Andre: "We will be discussing very topical subjects before long" Oh, that does not sound good for the Snyder cut, lol

I'd spit pea soup but I need all my canned goods for the coming war.

Why not just get a modern take on Blatty's novel "Legion" instead? I think Hollywood has sufficiently milked his original novel.

I liked both Exorcist the Beginning and Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist. They're not perfect films, but they're far better films than the awful Exorcist II although not as good as Exorcist I or III. And apparently Paul Shrader had similarly bad experiences with a movie called "Pay the Ghost" with Nick Cage in the 2010s.

I have only seen the Reni Harlin version and it was crap! The only movies in the franchise worth watching is the original uncut version and the Exorcist III.

24:15 welcome to my world (been a gamer) have you seen how meny games get made with the same name but some of them are like part 13 or so like the resent god of war while others are remakes and yet others are remasters, just hope that films don’t start down that road.

They used the Viva Rock Vegas sets. 😆

Could’ve listened to Gary go on for another hour...

the root problem with most remakes/reboots and in certain cases sequels is while they make them. which is because the previous version was successful and you can't easily breakdown by numbers why a certain movie is more successful then another. Yes a decent director, script, cast and when its released is all needed but for many movies that become iconic enough that they are interested in remakes its the lightening in a bottle of how a certain cast, director and script worked together that makes these movies great ago with its release and you can't remake all those elements easily to make a success but they keep trying.

Gotta admit I really enjoyed “Dominion” and found it more memorable and interesting than “The Beginning” by miles... sry Gary.

Where’s Gary at? I’ll tell him to his face that Schrader’s version was superior.

The Exorcist could only ever have been made when it was made, it was very much a product of its time. Likewise, its cultural impact can never really be recaptured, because the culture has changed so much.

'Cat People' was a remake of a 1942 movie.

All the rumor videos are fun but these types are what makes your channel stand out from the crowd.

Jeez, I wonder if they’ll fuck it up.

As much as I like the Exorcist it's not in my top ten, part 3 on the other hand definitely is.

You didn't name Renny Harlin's best directed film in your quick list - Cliffhanger.

I like Gary, his videos about his time on Hellraiser and directing his own Hellraiser film was great. But he's talking out of his ass claiming the "Exorcist: The Beginning" was a better film. Dominion was the superior film. It felt way more tonally like a tie in to the original Exorcist than Beginning did. I say this because Dominion, like the original Exorcist took a more subtle dramatic approach and built up to the full horror that would take place at the end of the film. Where as "Beginning" is too flashy, it forces you into the horror way to early in the film, leaving no real build up and slowly looses the full momentum when you get to the end in the cave where father Marin faces against Pazuzu. By that point you honestly do not care about what happens. Now I do agree, they should not be rebooting the Exorcist at all. It had director William Friedkin behind it, and it had William Peter Blatey, author of the novel of the same name who wrote the screenplay. They cteated the perfect dramatic horror film. To try and reboot it is completely asinine. But that is nothing new for morally bankrupt Hollywood.

Why?

wait, the bug is over?

I think RLM pooped on the DC of Exorcist 3. What makes Andre recommend it?

For anyone who says that ME is just a bunch of alt right muckraking manbaby incels should watch videos like this. Stuff like this is movie fan catnip. Love it!

Well there was the tv show on Fox that lasted 2 seasons. It ignored everything but the first film. I thought it was decent.

Why though?

Hollywood never seems to learn, 95% of reboots/remakes are far inferior to the originals, rising to 99.8% if the original is an acknowledged classic. An Exorcist remake will never better the original.

there are coins out there for content that is possessive // but if there is a Other Side .. would that side prefer a new version to rep them and their Kind?? would evil want a newer version ? the evil from the late 60s and early 70s really put some serious horror inside more than an american // how does one Top the little girl fxxking herself with the Cross, pulling her mom down for the deep Facial act and then push her aside like a scene out of 'natural born killers' where the dude is terrible at giving head to Lewis. / thanks for the Topic.. a bit earlier than october one, but still Let the Hallow the weeds Begin make it a Prequel

I'd prefer a ninth configuration remake

No no no, SEQUEL not a "reboot". Come on guys.

People who watch the Exorcist and think it needs to be remade or whatever - doesn't understand what makes that movie amazing ..

lol, now I want to know what Gary wrote that could put people in prison. =P

no more remakes/reboots/regurgitations.

I saw both prequels and unfortunately they were both hot garbage.

I thought the first season of the tv show wasn’t bad. As for a rebooting of the movie it’s a pass

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

I hope they don't go over the top with too much CGI or too much theatrical music when someone walks down the hall or twinkles their nose etc. like to do with all the movies today. Keep it basic and focus on the tone of the movie and CGI only when necessary

I dont know what everyone sees when they watch The Exorcist, cause I've never once found it scary lol Think I first watched when I was about 8

Lol wasn't the Exorcist tv series they just made in 2016 supposed to be the reboot ?

The Exorcist is a cinema classic. Why would anyone consider rebooting it? Not to mention it was a product of its time. Do people still believe in demons and things these days?

Ohhh god danmit .... just leave it be.... Fucking hell.

Why Hollywood? Why? Stop the remakes/reboots/reimagining!

The Exorcist is not like Friday the 13th, Nightmare on Elm or whatever other, fill in the blank horror franchise. Its more sacred, like Jaws. They did a horrible sequel in the 70s an unfortunately and strangely, cult classic second sequel about fifteen years later. Then even more disastrously , not one but two kind of unrelated prequels, actually the second being a recut of the former movie. Didn't know unlike Dominion, The Beginning made some solid bank. I actually thought at the time they were two different productions, lol. It's a fascinating history but still a problematic one. You have various audiences to appeal to or offend in various ways with this subject matter so its interesting. To go from the writer of Taxi Driver's vision to the director of Long Kiss Goodnight, a classic movie in my opinion and one of Harlin's best, is jarring. Paul Schrader is quite more prestigious then Harlin with his body of work compared to the more action oriented slick Harlin. Particulary I'm sure for fans of the William Freidken's original both those prequels were probably an insult. Two different types of director's with two seriously different styles and approaches to filmmaking never living up to the first or even the third. I can't see a remake of Heretic or even a reboot of the original working either. These days the source material and a young girl portraying anything close to what Regan went through could be inappropriate, Jeffrey Epstein anyon? Could look very exploitive. Although the possession scenes could be done without any sexual context still shocking but somewhat tastefully as with Jennifer Carpenter in The Exorcism of Emily Rose. I think now there is also the question of how psychologically taxing the intensity of recreating real life possession or an exorcism to a young actress/actor might be in order to stil sell this horror subgenre. But if you maybe go back to basics and make the story about Regan's family being followed by the demon. I actually would love to see Linda Blair appear in a new film. Honestly it's been awhile since I've seen The Heretic thankfully and I'm pretty sure she lived in the end. Would be nice to see her in flashback though.

Hollywood is so creatively bankrupt

Another Reboot. Late stage Capitalism. This hellscape is getting on my nerves

some movies you just gotta leave them alone

At 50 yeas of age, I've never seen the exorcist! And, at 100 years of age, I won't have seen the prequel, either!

Oh, come on!!! Stop it! Make new things, we're tired of reboots.

The viewership of this interview is criminally low :(

Just make a new demonic horror movie, it's not that hard Hollywood.

Neither film is really good. They both have a few good parts,maybe a combination of the two would be interesting. But I feel the Dominion is the better film and I'd tell that to Gary's face. The entire idea of doing any follow up to one of the greatest films ever made is just stupidity. Morgan Creek is the last place I'd go for quality horror. There's no real reason for these other than to try and make a quick buck and it feels like that. At least the Schrader version was trying something different. Harlin's one was way too much of a rehash right down to copying the look of possession at the end. Just give the audience the same thing and play it safe. Without a great writer like William Peter Blatty you're not going to add anything of value to the original story. Gary talks about how shocking the original was. And it was. But why? Do they even know why Blatty did that scene? It was shocking true but it wasn't just to shock. It was essential to the story. The mother,who had tried every non religious solution,had to be pushed so far that she would actually beg Father Karas for help. The prequel is just standard shock shlock without the care and character building that the original had. All attempts at replicating what made The Exorcist so good have failed. Only Legion has come close. Just leave it alone. This fascination with trying to remake/reboot/add onto or otherwise cash in on truly great works of the past is kind of like a sickness. If it's one thing that both these films prove its that they were both unnecessary.

Um...didn't they have a prequel to the Exorcist...in Exorcist 2... and Exorcist the Beginning.... and Dominion a prequel to the Exorcist? Seriously, some movies should just be re-released and not remade. you can't capture lightning in the bottle performance of the outstanding original cast.

If they spent more time remaking crap movies into great movies, instead of remaking great movies into crap movies, people may want to go and see them. Pull some of the millions of unused scripts out of the vault and give them a small budget. Reshoots and reboots show no originality, insight, or balls.

To keep up with the times instead of the devil a guy is possessed by gay woman . Oh sorry, I meant CGI gay woman Karen. It’ll be a smash hit like the rebooted The Thing.