Cast a remake of "The Exorcist"

Cafe Society
#1

No, it isn’t listed on IMDB as a forthcoming project…yet. But with Hollywood having churned out new versions of pretty much every well-known horror movie from 1970 on (there IS a “Poltergeist” remake on the way after all), I think it’s a safe bet to say that we will eventually see a remake before too much longer. So why not go ahead and throw out our casting / creative choices for it now? Because it IS gonna happen…mark my word.

For movie director, I would go with Lars Von Trier. He’s just profane,neurotic and preoccupied by sacred imagery enough to establish a tone creepy enough to match the original, but with its’ own original take.

Regan McNeil - I’d prefer to go with an unknown young actress, but if the studio did insist on a ‘name’ actress, I’d say Kiernan Shipka (at this point, she’d be playing a role a few years younger than her already, but she could do it.)

Chris McNeil - Amy Adams would be ideal as a new Chris. In fact, she’s who made me think of this as a topic, because I was watching “American Hustle” and she struck me as a young Ellen Burstyn type.

Father Damian Karras - I’d like to say Alec Baldwin, but he apparently has ‘withdrawn from public life and retired.’ Sooo, someone who could believably play a swarthy, yet dedicated Italian Roman Catholic priest with lots of angst? Maybe Jon Hamm, but he’s just a little too wasp-y IMO. Perhaps Jeremy Sisto? Or in a very daring departure Ty Burrell (Phil from ‘Modern Family’) who looks the part of a Father Karras.

Damian’s mother - the small, but very crucial role would (in my production) be played by Brenda Vaccaro. Of course, it’d be the biggest departure from the original book / film, she’d be more of a conniving Livia Soprano character than a helpless “Ma-Ma MI-a” immigrant.

Father Merrin - Ian McKellan. Hands down.

Voice of Pazzuzzu - I’m tempted to say Andy Serkis, but he’s too ‘on the nose’ as the guy who does voice-overs for creepy CGI-type characters. I think a great outlier choice would be Bette Midler, who I personally always associate with that creepy animated 70s show “Vegetable Soup.” She can growl and gnash her teeth and hiss dramatically too.

The all-important creepy music soundtrack would be by Laurie Anderson.
Waddaya say?

#2

Hard to put down your choices.

I read the book before seeing the movie and I was a bit underwhelmed with Jason Miller as Father Karras. I had pictured somebody like Philip Seymour Hoffman, in spite of Hoffman not being available at the time. But he was who I was picturing in my mind’s eye. Now that that choice is moot, I’d pick somebody like Michael Imperioli.

The kid is the key role, so I like your choice of Ms. Shipka. Somebody even mousier and more innocent would be nice to find.

I could see Christopher Walken in the Max von Sydow role. No, seriously!

#3

Michael Imperioli is a great choice. Now that you’ve brought him up, he’d be my front-runner from “Damie! Damie! Damie!”

#4

But there was no swarthy Italian priest in The Exorcist. In both the novel and the film Karras was Greek. If his surname wasn’t enough of a clue, listen to the scene where he visits his mother—they speak Greek to each other, not Italian.

#5

I can see Viggo Mortensen as Damien. And Jack Black as Burke Dennings.

#6

:smack::smack::smack:

I knew that! WHY did I describe him as Italian when I knew he was greek? DAMIAN, fer crissake! WHY oh WHY did I write that?

Because…

The devil made me do it!