The Exorcistintroduced Regan MacNeil ( Linda Blair ) and her female parent , Chris MacNeil ( Ellen Burstyn ) , and though Regan returned inExorcist II : The Heretic , Chris was n’t seen again after her daughter ’s exorcism – but why ? William Friedkin ’s 1973 supernatural repugnance movieThe Exorcistis one of the most influential horror movies to date and go forward to be regarded as one of the gravid horror movie ever made , with its theatrical role , particularly Regan and the ogre Pazuzu , becoming part of pop culture . The succeeder ofThe Exorcistmade means for a franchise with sequels , prequels , and a idiot box serial publication , but the original film stand up as the best of the franchise .

Based on the 1971 novel of the same name by William Peter Blatty , The Exorcisttells the tale of Regan MacNeil , a 12 - twelvemonth - honest-to-god who after starting acting violently , speak in tongues , and killing one of her mother ’s friends , was revealed to have been possessed bya demon hump as Pazuzu . Desperate for a “ therapeutic ” for her daughter , Chris asked Father Lankester Merrin ( Max von Sydow ) for help , and along with Father Damien Karras ( Jason Miller ) , they perform an exorcism on untested Regan , but the daemon before long start up to psychologically attack Karras . After a complicated and tragical exorcism , Regan was freed , and she returned in the subsequence four yr subsequently – however , Ellen Burstyn did n’t return for any sequels toThe Exorcist .

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Ellen Burstyn Turned Down The Exorcist II (& Other Sequels)

The Exorcistwas a decisive and commercial-grade winner , and it ’s one of the fewhorror motion-picture show that have been nominate for Best Picture at the Academy Awards . For her part as Chris MacNeil , Ellen Burstyn was nominated for Best Actress at the Academy Awards as well as the Golden Globe Awards and received a lot of praise from critic and viewers , but Burstyn plough down the go to reprise her theatrical role as Regan ’s mother inExorcist II . Although a understanding for Burstyn to refuse to play Chris MacNeil again in the sequels toThe Exorcisthasn’t been let out , seeing how debatable and traumatic the experience of filming the first pic was , and after Burstyn arrive permanent back injury while shoot one setting , it ’s not that surprising that she flex down all those offers to return as Regan ’s female parent .

As a result of Burstyn ’s decision , Exorcist IIbrought back Sharon Spencer ( Kitty Winn ) , Chris ’ former assistant who stayed by her side during Regan ’s “ unwellness ” and exorcism , but who at the terminal ofThe exorciser , decided to cease . Sharon returned as Regan ’s defender , but unfortunately , during the third act ofExorcist II , she was possessed and set herself on attack , dying from her hurt outside the MacNeil ’s house where Regan ’s dispossession was performed . Chris ’ fate was leave unknown , but the mystery around what pass off to her afterThe Exorcistwill finally be solved as Burstyn agreed to return forThe Exorcist ’s reboot / bequest sequel .

Why Ellen Burstyn Is Returning For The Exorcist: Believer

After two continuation and two prequels that could n’t fare close to the quality and success of Friedkin ’s first flick , The Exorcistfranchiseis coming back to life with a sequel trilogy , following the steps of theHalloweenfranchise . The first movie , titledThe Exorcist : Believer , attend to as a unmediated sequel to Friedkin ’s movie and will recount the tale of the don of a possess shaver who , desperate for help , go in search of someone who has gone through a alike experience : none other than Chris MacNeil . Ellen Burstyn has been honorable aboutwhy she agreed to refund forThe Exorcist : Believer , explain that she was propose a luck of money and release it down , and when the go was replicate , she gave her Leontyne Price : a scholarship program for “ gifted scholar at our master ’s degree programme at Pace University ” . Ellen Burstyn knows how to negotiate her return to the universe ofThe exorciser , and it was all for a cracking grounds .

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Ellen Burstyn as Chris MacNeil in The Exorcist

Chris MacNeil looking worried in The Exorcist

The Exorcist Ellen Burstyn as Chris MacNeil standing in front of bookshelves

The Exorcist - Franchise