The Exorcist is an American supernatural horror television series created by Jeremy Slater for Fox. Part of The Exorcist franchise, the series serves as a direct sequel to the original 1973 film and ignores the film's various sequels and prequels. Alfonso Herrera and Ben Daniels star as a pair of exorcists who investigate cases of demonic possession.
The series premiered on September 23, 2016, and a second season premiered on September 29, 2017, each comprising 10 episodes. In May 2018, the series was canceled after two seasons.
Contents
Cast
Main
Alfonso Herrera as Father Tomas Ortega
Ben Daniels as Father Marcus Keane
Hannah Kasulka as Casey Rance (season 1; guest season 2)
Brianne Howey as Kat Rance (season 1)
Kurt Egyiawan as Father Devon Bennett
Alan Ruck as Henry Rance (season 1)
Geena Davis as Angela Rance / Regan MacNeil (season 1)
Sophie Thatcher as young Regan MacNeil (season 1)
Li Jun Li as Rose Cooper (season 2)
Brianna Hildebrand as Verity (season 2)
John Cho as Andy Kim (season 2)
Zuleikha Robinson as Mouse (season 2)
Recurring
Robert Emmet Lunney as the Salesman / Captain Howdy / Pazuzu (season 1)
Mouzam Makkar as Jessica (season 1)
Kirsten Fitzgerald as Maria Walters
Sharon Gless as Chris MacNeil (season 1)
Camille Guaty as Olivia (season 1)
Deanna Dunagan as Mother Bernadette (season 1)
Torrey Hanson as Cardinal Guillot
Francis Guinan as Brother Simon (season 1)
Cyrus Arnold as David "Truck" Johnson III (season 2)
Hunter Dillon as Caleb (season 2)
Alex Barima as Shelby (season 2)
Amélie Eve as Grace (season 2)
Christopher Cousins as Peter Osborne (season 2)
Alicia Witt as Nicole Kim (season 2)
Zibby Allen as Cindy (season 2)
Beatrice Kitsos as Harper Graham (season 2)
Episodes
Production
Development
Jeremy Slater wrote the pilot. Fox ordered the pilot to be shot in January 2016. The series is described as "a propulsive, serialized psychological thriller following two very different men tackling one family's case of horrifying demonic possession, and confronting the face of true evil".
Casting
Brianne Howey was cast as Katherine Rance, while Hannah Kasulka was cast as Casey Rance. Alfonso Herrera and Ben Daniels were cast as Father Tomas and Father Marcus respectively, while Kurt Egyiawan was cast as Father Bennett. Geena Davis was cast as Angela Rance. Davis, Ruck, Kasulka and Howey did not return as regular cast members in the second season, while Herrera, Egyiawan and Daniels did return, as their characters preside over a new possession case. John Cho, Brianna Hildebrand, Zuleikha Robinson and Li Jun Li were cast in series regular roles for season two. Christopher Cousins and Cyrus Arnold were cast in recurring roles.
Filming
The first season of the show was shot in Chicago. Season two filming began in Vancouver in July 2017.
Home media
DVDs for both seasons are available to purchase through Amazon.com beginning on July 10, 2018.
Reception
Critical reception
The Exorcist has received generally positive reviews from critics. Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes gives the first season a score of 79% based on 53 reviews with an average of 6.12/10. The consensus says: "The Exorcist doesn't come close to its classic source material, but still boasts a tense narrative that manages some legitimate scares and credible special effects." On Metacritic, the show has a weighted average of 62/100 based on 28 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".
The second season received a score of 100% based on 11 reviews, with an average of 7.5/10. The consensus says: "The Exorcist continues to haunt in a more confident second season, with an assured storyline and mastery over its demonic flourishes."
