Entertainment

How Is The 'Exorcist' TV Show Different?

by Kaitlin Reilly

It's the age of reboots, and so it was inevitable that one of the scariest movies of all time is receiving one — though the medium of the film's reboot may surprise horror fans. Fox's Exorcist television show has been in the works for quite some time, and now a new Exorcist trailer is out that should give fans who feared the 1973 possession film — often regarded as the "scariest film of all time" — a new reason to sleep with the lights on. The trailer, which stars Geena Davis, certainly evokes the images of the original film, but just how similar is The Exorcist TV show to the original film? Here's what we know.

The new trailer, which was screened at Comic-Con on Thursday, is nearly as dark and disturbing as the original film's trailer, but according to Fox's official synopsis for The Exorcist , available via Collider, there are a few key differences between the upcoming television series — set to air on September 23 — and the iconic movie. That makes sense, considering that The Exorcist TV show isn't attempting to be a remake; though the series will have similar themes, it won't be a retelling of the same plot. The most notable difference is therefore the family dynamic within the new TV show. While the film was about a single mother and her 12-year-old daughter Reagan, the show includes a mother, father, and two daughters, both teens.

Check out the Comic-Con trailer below:

Another change from the original film is who is being targeted by the supernatural forces. In the movie, Reagan becomes possessed by a demon, seemingly after unleashing it via Ouija board. However, in the TV show synopsis, it appears that other members of the family have some sort of relationship with the supernatural: Angela (Davis) has recurring nightmares, while younger daughter Casey hears noises coming from the walls. In terms of possession, we don't yet know who will become the victim, but my bet is that it's eldest daughter Katherine, whom the synopsis describes as becoming a "recluse" who won't leave her room. Could it be because the demon has trapped her in there?

We'll have to wait until September 23 to find out, but one thing's for sure: this series will definitely freak us out.

Images: Marcelo Pazetto Lepi/YouTube