After finding much success with 2018’s long-awaitedHalloweensequel, which revamped a sort of dying franchise,Halloween Killsdirector David Gordon Green shares his approach to writing his upcomingExorcistfilm.
After signing on to direct 3Halloweenfilms (with 2018’s being a critical and box office success), it was announced back in December of 2020 that Green would beattached to helm his ownExorcistfilmthat would serve as a direct sequel to William Friedkin’s 1973 classic adaptation. Speaking with SFX Magazine, Green opened up about transitioning over to the other iconic horror franchise and what that meant in terms of his writing process.
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“.[…] right now I have written the first of threeExorcistmovies. That was my pandemic project and a very different exercise thanHalloween, it’s much more researched and academic and it’s approaching the genre from a different direction than a slasher movie. Both are really fun, both are really intimidating because they’re following in the footsteps of the masterful horror films that I grew up with,” Green says. The director also commented on how amazing it has been to be able to play with certain characters, particularly while working withreturningExorciststar Ellen Burstyn. Having now worked on both theHalloweenandExorcistfranchises, Green noted that each project allows him to “exercise different muscles,” and he’s hoping his vision for theExorcistsequel will satisfy fans of the original while also reaching new audiences.
Green is no stranger to either tackling different breeds of horror or hopping genres entirely. Green began his career producing everything from drama films likeSnow Angelsto psychological thrillers likeUndertowand even romantic movies likeAll the Real Girls. The director eventually transitioned to comedy, working on fan-favorites such asPineapple Express,Your Highness, and the hit HBO seriesEastbound & Down. He then was responsible for more acclaimed dramas likeJoeandStrongerbefore stepping into full-out horror withHalloween. This has become more of a popular trend in the industry, as other filmmakers like Jordan Peele have transitioned over from a comedy background (previously working on the hit Comedy Central seriesKey & PeelewithKeegan-Michael Key) to directing these horror films likeGet OutandUsthat have plenty of social commentaries. Since both Green and Peele have found success in new genres, it wouldn’t be surprising to see more filmmakers join this trend and tackle something unfamiliar to their previous work.
Although Green’sExorcistfilm is still in early development, the director is already working on a newseries based onHellraiser. Green confirmed that he has other writers starting to develop some great ideas while he focuses on wrapping up hisHalloweentrilogy.
Halloween Killspicks up right where its predecessor left off, as Laurie Strode, her daughter Karen, and granddaughter Allyson escaped from Michael Myers only to learn shortly after that he has miraculously survived. This time, they join other survivors to form a mob to finally take down the iconic killer once and for all.
The untitled sequel toThe Exorcistcomes out in theaters on August 08, 2025.
