Mike Flanagan's upcoming film "The Exorcist: Martyrs" has sparked interest in a predecessor that deserves more attention. Before Flanagan's movie arrives, viewers should watch the 2016 Fox series "The Exorcist," a two-season show that served as a direct sequel to William Friedkin's 1973 classic.
The first season follows Father Tomas Ortega (Alfonso Herrera) and veteran exorcist Father Marcus Keane (Ben Daniels) as they investigate a possible demonic possession in a Chicago family. Halfway through, the show reveals its connection to the original film. Geena Davis plays the mother of the possessed girl and is revealed to be Regan MacNeil, the protagonist from 1973, originally played by Linda Blair. The demon tormenting the family is Pazuzu, returning for revenge on the family decades later. Sophie Thatcher plays young Regan in flashbacks.
The series built its own mythology around the central story, introducing a subplot involving Satanic conspirators within the Catholic Church planning to possess the Pope himself during a papal visit. The show balanced mystery, scares, and emotional depth while expanding the franchise's lore.
Despite critical acclaim, "The Exorcist" struggled with ratings, becoming Fox's lowest-rated program in its second year before cancellation in 2017 alongside "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" and "Lucifer." The series faced a challenging marketing situation. Fox sold it on the franchise's recognizable name despite not advertising it as a direct sequel. Season two then shifted to an entirely original story while building the larger mythology, making it a difficult pitch for traditional network television.
The show remains one of the best legacy sequels made for television, capturing what made the original film successful while establishing its own identity.