In an exclusive today, Deadline have revealed that Lidya Jewett (Nightbooks, Black Panther) has joined the cast of Blumhouse’s upcoming The Exorcist reboot.
The reboot, directed by Halloween’s David Gordon Green, is the first in a planned trilogy from Blumhouse, Morgan Creek, Universal and Peacock, with the first entry on track for theatrical release on October 13, 2023.
Alongside Jewett, The Exorcist will star Leslie Odom Jr. (Hamilton, Glass Onion), Ann Dowd (Hereditary) and Ellen Burstyn, who is returning as her character Chris MacNeil from William Friedkin’s original 1973 film. Burstyn received a Best Actress nomination for her role as the mother of 12 year old Regan (Linda Blair) who is possessed by the violent and vulgar demon Pazuzu.
Plot details for the reboot seem largely the same as the original (which, unless you’ve lived under a rock for fifty years, you should know about);
Odom Jr. will play the father of a possessed child. Desperate for help, he tracks down Ms. Burstyn’s character.
At just sixteen years old, Jewett already has more than 15 film and television show credits under her belt. While it’s not explicitly confirmed yet who she’s playing, if Jewett is to star as the rebooted Regan equivalent , let’s hope she likes the taste of pea soup…
