Following the recent casting of Lidya Jewett, Blumhouse and Universal Pictures’ upcoming The Exorcist sequel has welcomed another young actress to its cast. Deadline brings word that Matilda The Musical star Olivia Marcum has been tapped to make her feature acting debut opposite Ellen Burstyn in the forthcoming horror drama film, which is still currently in production.
The film is scheduled to arrive in theaters on October 13. Marcum will also be joining previously announced cast members Oscar nominee Leslie Odom Jr. (Hamilton, One Night in Miami) and Emmy winner Ann Dowd (The Handmaid’s Tale).
The Exorcist movie serves as a direct sequel to the original horror feature, which was adapted from William Peter Blatty’s novel, with Halloween’s David Gordon Green directing from a screenplay he is co-writing with Scott Teems, Danny McBride, and Peter Sattler.
Oscar-winner Ellen Burstyn is returning to the franchise for the upcoming films, reprising her iconic role as Chris MacNeil over 40 years since the original film debuted in 1973, for which she received an Oscar nomination for Best Actress.
The sequel will be produced by Jason Blum, David Robinson, and James Robinson, with Green, McBride, and Couper Samuelson set to executive produce. It will be a co-production between Blumhouse and Morgan Creek Production, with Ryan Turek to oversee the project on behalf of Blumhouse.
The original The Exorcist centered around the sudden demonic possession of a 12-year-old girl named Regan (Linda Blair) after encountering an old Ouija board. In a last attempt to save Regan, two Roman Catholic priests (Max von Sydow, Jason Miller) are enlisted to conduct an exorcism on her.
