Prepare for more Russell Crowe fighting hellish demons as Bloody Disgusting is reporting that Screen Gems is moving forward with a sequel to The Pope’s Exorcist, the recent horror film making a splash at the box office.
The outlet notes, “Development is underway on The Pope’s Exorcist 2,” but offered no further details other than the possibility of Crowe returning for another outing.
The sequel is no real surprise, as horror has a tremendous theatrical run this year. The Pope’s Exorcist cost a reported $18 million to make and has already scared up $52 million worldwide. With that type of return on investment, Screen Gems sees a potential franchise with this film. Given Father Gabriele Amorth’s legendary career as a high-profile exorcist, where he has performed a reported 100,000 exorcisms, the studio could pull from stories for years.
SEE ALSO: Check out our ★★★ review of The Pope’s Exorcist here
Crowe plays Father Gabriele Amorth in the Julius Avery-directed film; this first outing follows Amorth’s investigation of the possession of a child and how he uncovers a conspiracy the Vatican has tried to keep secret.
Inspired by the actual files of Father Gabriele Amorth, Chief Exorcist of the Vatican (Academy Award-winner Russell Crowe), The Pope’s Exorcist follows Amorth as he investigates a young boy’s terrifying possession and ends up uncovering a centuries-old conspiracy the Vatican has desperately tried to keep hidden.
The Pope’s Exorcist is now possessing cinema screens worldwide.
