The tv series based on classic movie ‘The Exorcist‘ will air exclusively on Syfy in the UK this autumn it has been announced. This 10-episode television series is not a remake of the 1973 film, but a new chapter which takes place in Chicago, 40 years after the events depicted in the film.
“Securing the UK premiere of The Exorcist is a major coup for Syfy and an ideal fit for the channel brand where viewers are encouraged to imagine greater,” comments Colin McLeod, MD, UK & Emerging Markets, NBCUniversal International Networks. “With its exceptional production values and stellar all-star cast, this exciting acquisition underlines our commitment to delivering our viewers bold, daring and must-see content.”
The Exorcist is a psychological thriller following two very different priests tackling one family’s case of horrifying demonic possession. Father Tomas Ortega (Alfonso Herrera – Sense8, The Chosen) is the new face of the Catholic Church; progressive, ambitious and compassionate. He runs a small but loyal parish in the suburbs of Chicago. He has no idea that his quiet life is about to change forever. Meanwhile, another priest finds himself locked in a life-and-death struggle with evil. Father Marcus Brennan (Ben Daniels – Law & Order UK, House of Cards) is a modern-day Templar Knight, an orphan raised since childhood by the Vatican to wage war against its enemies.
Father Marcus is everything Father Tomas is not; relentless, abrasive and utterly consumed by his sacred mission. Caught in the middle is the Rance family, members of Tomas’ parish. On the surface, they’re a normal, suburban family, but all is not as it seems in this household. The patriarch, Henry Rance (Alan Ruck – Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Ghost Town, Spin City), is slowly but surely losing his mind. Eldest daughter Katherine (Brianne Howey – Scream Queens) has become a recluse who refuses to leave her room. Her younger sister, Casey (Hannah Kasulka) thinks she’s hearing strange noises coming from inside the walls. And mother Angela (Geena Davis – The Fly, Beetlejuice, Thelma & Louise, Academy Award and Golden Globe-winner) has been plagued by recurring nightmares, each more frightening than the last. Angela believes there is something in the house, a demonic presence, growing stronger by the day. Desperate, she begs Father Tomas for help, unwittingly setting the naïve young priest on a collision course with Father Marcus. Separately, each faces an insurmountable task, but together they become the only hope against an evil force that has been mobilising for centuries.
The series is executive produced by Jeremy Slater, Emmy Award nominee Rolin Jones (Friday Night Lights, Weeds), Rupert Wyatt, Roy Lee (Hidden, Run All Night), James Robinson (Dream House), David Robinson (Dream House, The Good Shepherd) and Barbara Wall (Boss).
The Exorcist will air on Syfy UK, Autumn 2016.