Paul Schrader's 'Exorcist' to be Released

As part of the Brussels International Festival of Fantastic Film, Schrader's 'Exorcist: The Beginning' will finally be seen by the general public.

Feb 18 2005

It looks likes the Paul Schrader version of 'Exorcist: The Beginning', will finally see the light of day in Brussels next month.

As part of the International Festival of Fantastic Film, Schrader will screen the movie on March 18, with the hope that it will receive a limited theatrical release soon after.

The prequel has had a chequered past to say the least. It was originally all set to go ahead under the guidance of director John Frankenheimer, with Liam Neeson playing a young Father Merrin.

When Frankenheimer died before production began in 2002, 'American Gigolo' director Schrader stepped into the breach, with Swedish actor Stellan Skarsgard taking over the Neeson role.

Producers Morgan Creek were unhappy with Schrader's end product however, and promptly shelved the movie, with everything from 'creative differences' to a lack of gore blamed for the decision.

In an unprecedented step, 'Cliffhanger' director Renny Harlin was then brought in to re-shoot the entire movie, and the result was a deeply average horror film that didn't seem to satisfy anyone (indeed Time Out called it 'cod-religious horror by numbers') but nevertheless scared up enough business to make its money back at the box office.

The Brussels screening will be the first opportunity for the general public to see the original Schrader version, and could lead to the film finally getting a DVD release sometime later in the year.