20 Horror Sequels That Took FOREVER To Get Made

5. The Exorcist III

The Exorcist is such an elemental entry in the horror canon that, of course, Hollywood was never going to let it be a mere one-off thing.

Four years after the 1973 original, Exorcist II: The Heretic was released to a critical pasting and atrocious box office, seemingly signalling that the wider audience interest in the Exorcist "brand" just wasn't there.

And so, it was put on ice for an entire 13 years, until original Exorcist author William Peter Blatty wrote and directed The Exorcist III. 

Though it performed modestly at the box office and was middlingly received by critics, the threequel's reputation has grown considerably over time, many deeming it the only worthwhile Exorcist film after the first.

The Exorcist III seemingly closed the franchise out until the release of prequel Exorcist: The Beginning 14 years later in 2004, with another prequel, Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist, releasing the next year.

The failure of both prequels saw the series lie dormant again until 2023's woeful The Exorcist: Believer, but with Mike Flanagan currently shooting the next Exorcist film, there's a possibility the IP might finally strike gold again. Here's hoping.