Ellen Burstyn to reprise role in new The Exorcist trilogy

Ellen Burstyn is set to return as Chris MacNeil in the new The Exorcist films.

Universal Studios is set to buy the rights for the new trilogy for a whopping $400 million (roughly €339 million).

According to The New York Times, Burstyn will star alongside Leslie Odom Jr, who plays a father seeking Burstyn's help when his daughter becomes possessed by a supernatural entity.

The first film in the series will be released in cinemas in October 2023. The films are set to be directed by David Gordon Green who is already a dab-hand at revitalising horror franchises, having directed the latest Halloween trilogy starring Jamie Lee Curtis.

The second and third films in the Exorcist trilogy will debut on Peacock, NBCUniversal's fledgling streaming service.

Jason Blum, of Blumhouse productions, is set to produce the film, along with David Robinson.

The new trilogy will be "a compelling continuation" of the original 1973 film. In fact, you won't even need to have seen the original to understand this new trilogy.

The original film earned over $440 million at the box office and won an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay – any attempt to mess with the series is a big deal for fans and critics alike.

“I love to do [these] kinds of movies because people are very emotional about it. I think it’s a high bar and it’s a challenge to do the movie," said Jason Blum in a recent interview.

“Remember, most of the audience coming to this – 95% of the audience who will, if we do our job right, come to see this movie – will not have seen the first Exorcist or even heard of it.”