Exorcist Turns Neeson's Head

[J.A.F._Doorhof]

Liam Neeson told SCI FI Wire that the proposed Exorcist 4:1 prequel film could still come together, despite the health-related departure of director John Frankenheimer. "Maybe," Neeson replied during an interview when asked if Exorcist 4:1 will be his next film. "They're looking for a director, and I just don't want to do it with Joe Schmoe, you know?"

Neeson, who would portray a young Father Merrin (Max von Sydow's character from the original Exorcist), added that he remains intrigued by the prequel's basic plot. "It is a really, really wonderful script by Caleb Carr [writer of The Alienist], who is a fantastic novelist," the actor said. "It's not the usual Hollywood spin on such stuff. It's a very, very intense story. It's an argument about theology, actually, and the nature of good and evil." Though production has yet to begin, Warner Brothers has already announced that it will release the tentatively titled Exorcist 4:1 on July 18, 2003. The title could change to Exorcist: Dominion.