Brian Viner: Will Scarlett Johansson be the next victim of The Exorcist curse?
Heads swivelled at last week's news that Scarlett Johansson is to appear in a 'radical' new version of The Exorcist. Mine did, anyway. The Exorcist, a horror classic based on the novel by William Peter Blatty, has a notorious reputation for being cursed, with a string of tragic events befalling those involved in its production.
The original film, released in 1973, was plagued by accidents and unexplained occurrences. Pauline Baynes, the illustrator of the original novel, died just days before the film's premiere. In 1974, the film's star, Ellen Burstyn, suffered a series of injuries, including a broken ankle and a detached retina. The film's director, William Friedkin, also reported experiencing strange occurrences during filming.
Fast forward to 2023, and it seems that the curse may be striking again. Scarlett Johansson, a highly respected actress, has announced her involvement in the new version of The Exorcist. While the exact nature of her role remains unclear, fans of the original film are already speculating about the potential risks involved.
While it's impossible to say whether the curse is real, one thing is certain: the new version of The Exorcist is set to be a highly anticipated release. With Johansson on board, the film's production team will be under intense scrutiny, and any accidents or unexplained occurrences will undoubtedly be subject to intense media attention.
As a fan of the original film, I'm excited to see how the new version will turn out. But I'm also curious to see if Scarlett Johansson will be the next victim of The Exorcist curse. Only time will tell.
