Deep ImpactandArmageddon.Dante’s PeakandVolcano. Sometimes, cinema brings forth the perfect double-bill of unrelated movies…though they don’t usually star the same actor. The latest unconnected doubleheader comes courtesy ofRussell Crowe, who this year will star in the horror outingThe Exorcismafter last year starring in the oddly similarly themed horror outingThe Pope’s Exorcist. And fans of both the actor and the genre cannot get enough.
“When I demanded that Russell Crowe give us the 199 promised sequels toThe Pope’s ExorcistI did not expect him to jump exorcism franchises. But I’m intrigued!” said one fan, with another adding, “I didn’t realize that the Russell Crowe Cinematic Universe of Exorcisms was a thing that I would need in my life, but clearly it is.”
Directed by Julius Avery,The Pope’s Exorcistwas released last year and follows Crowe as Father Gabriele Amorth, the chief exorcist for the Vatican, as he battles Satan and innocent-possessing demons. This year’sThe Exorcism, meanwhile, takes asomewhat more meta-approachand finds Crowe leading as an actor who begins to unravel while filming a horror movie.
This unofficial Russell Crowe-led exorcism franchise has fans crying out for more, with one thinking a third outing should addCrowe’sThe Nice Guysco-star Ryan Gosling, while another wants a possible threequel to be bold.
The Exorcism Is Due to Land in Theaters in June
Directed by Joshua John Miller,The Exorcism“follows Anthony Miller (Crowe), a troubled actor who begins to unravel while shooting a supernatural horror film. His estranged daughter (Ryan Simpkins) wonders if he’s slipping back into his past addictions, or if there’s something more sinister at play.”The Exorcismstars Sam Worthington, Chloe Bailey, Adam Goldberg and David Hyde Pierce alongside Russell Crowe, and you can check out the recently released trailer below.
10 Best Movies Involving Exorcisms, Ranked
Taping into the fears involving someone’s faith has been a tool used by horror film makers for decades.
As for Crowe’s prior foray into the world of possession inThe Pope’s Exorcist, the actor has teased that it could be expanded into a trilogy based on further books bythe real Father Gabriele Amorth.
“And remember, the man that’s based on, Gabriele Amorth, he wrote 12 books. So we have more than enough source material to do one or two more of those films.”
However, audiences could be waiting a little while as a change in studio head has seemingly stalled plansforThe Pope’s Exorcistsequels.
“Well that’s in discussion at the moment. The producers originally got the kick off from the studio not just for one sequel but for two. But there’s been a change of studio heads at the moment, so that’s going around in a few circles. But very definitely, man. We set that character up that you could take him out and put him into a lot of different circumstances.”
The Exorcismis scheduled to be theatrically released by Vertical in the United States on June 21, 2025.
