Exorcist: The Beginning (2004) - Turner Classic Movies

Brief Synopsis

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Father Lankester Merrin thinks that he has glimpsed the face of Evil. In the years following World War II, Merrin is relentlessly haunted by memories of the unspeakable brutality perpetrated against the innocent people of his parish. In the wake of all he has seen, both his faith in his fellow man a

Cast & Crew

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Renny Harlin

Stellan Skarsgård

Father Lankester Merrin

James D'arcy

Father William Francis

Izabella Scorupco

Remy Sweeney

Julian Wadham

Major Granville

Film Details

Also Known As

Exorcist 4:1, Exorcist: Dominion, Exorcisten: Begynnelsen, exorciste, au commencement

MPAA Rating

Genre

Adaptation

Horror

Sequel

Release Date

2004

Production Company

Cinecitta Studios; Digital Dimension; Future Post; Iride; Luigi Pini; Morgan Creek Entertainment Group; Morgan Creek International; Pacific Title & Art Studio; Pixel Magic; Signet Sound Studio; Sync Or Swim; Technicolor; Two Hours In The Dark, Inc; Universal Studios Sound Facilities; Warner Bros. Pictures; Zak Productions

Distribution Company

WARNER BROS. PICTURES DISTRIBUTION (WBPD); Warner Bros. Pictures Distribution; Lumière Publishing; Nu-Metro; Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group; Warner Bros. Pictures Distribution; Warner Bros. Pictures International

Location

Morocco; Rome, Italy; United Kingdom; United States; Spain

Technical Specs

Duration

1h 53m

Synopsis

Father Lankester Merrin thinks that he has glimpsed the face of Evil. In the years following World War II, Merrin is relentlessly haunted by memories of the unspeakable brutality perpetrated against the innocent people of his parish. In the wake of all he has seen, both his faith in his fellow man and his faith in the Almighty have deserted him. He can no longer honestly call himself a man of God. Merrin has traveled far from his native Holland in a desperate attempt to escape the horrors that he witnessed there. While drifting through Cairo, he is approached by a collector of rare antiquities to join a British archeological excavation in the remote Turkana region of Kenya. They have unearthed a Christian Byzantine church in inexplicably pristine condition--as if it had been buried on the day it was completed. The collector wants Merrin, an Oxford-educated archeologist, to find an ancient relic hidden within the church before the British discover it. But beneath the church, something much older sleeps, waiting to be awoken. Madness descends upon the local villagers and the contingent of British soldiers who've been sent to guard the excavation. Merrin watches helplessly as the atrocities of war are repeated against another innocent village--atrocities he had prayed never to see again. The blood of innocents flows freely on the East African plain, and the horror has only just begun. In the place where Evil was born, Merrin will finally see its true face.

Director

Renny Harlin

Cast

Stellan Skarsgård

Father Lankester Merrin

James D'arcy

Father William Francis

Izabella Scorupco

Remy Sweeney

Julian Wadham

Major Granville

Andrew French

Ralph Brown

Ben Cross

David Bradley

Father Gionetti

Alan Ford

Anthonie Kamerling

Lieutenant Kessel

Eddie Osel

Israel Aduramo

Patrick O'kane

James Bellamy

Cecilia Amati

Little Dutch Girl

Matti Ristinen

Medieval Priest

Lidia Darly

Sebutuana'S Wife

James Paparella

Silvio Jiminez Hernandez

Stricken Turkana Worker

Yemi Ajibade

Michel Leroy

Tribesman In Hospital

John Sesay

Turkana Warrior #1

Sayoh Lahai

Turkana Warrior #2

Alessandro Casula

Preacher With Pazuzu

Robert Purvis

Lizzy X

Indiana Woodward

Little Girl Vocalist

Antonie Kamerling

Roberto Purvis

Crew

Laurent Abecassis

Visual Effects Supervisor (Digital Dimension)

Israel Aduramo

Additional Voicing

Syed Ali Ahsan

Technical Manager (Kleiser-Walczak Construction Company Inc)

Ulrika Akander

Khadija Alami

Production Supervisor (Morocco)

Mohamed Ali

Stunt Performer

Ian Allard

Lighting Artist (Meteor Studios)

Emiliano Alleva

Assistant Video Assist

Joe Alter

Digital Effects Artist (Kleiser-Walczak Construction Company Inc)

Alp Altiner

Robert Alves

Character Animator (Meteor Studios)

David Ambrosi

Stunt Performer

David Ambrosi

Stunt Coordinator

Sergio Ambrosi

Grip; Grip (2nd Unit)

Fabrizio Amendola

Best Boy Electric

Roberta Amodio

Assistant Set Decorator

Monica Anderson

Dailies Assistant (Los Angeles)

Steve Ansell

First Assistant Editor

Giorgio Antonini

Stunt Performer

Mathieu Archambeault

Cg Effects Artist (Meteor Studios)

Tim Aslam

Assistant Costume Designer

Shaikh Ata-ur-rehman

Digital Effects Artist (Kleiser-Walczak Construction Company Inc)

Carlo Avvisato

Angelo Badalamenti

Music (2005 Release)

Gianpaolo Bagala

Gianpaolo Bagala

David Bailey

Michael Baltazar

Lead Technical Artist (Meteor Studios)

Alma Barbieri

Stephane Barbin

Cg Supervisor (Digital Dimension)

Ron Barr

Digital Conform And Opticals (Technicolor Digital Intermediates)

Davide Bartolini

Stand-In (For Mr Skarsgard)

Francois Beaudry

Technical Director (Digital Dimension)

Antonio Beccarisi

Herbert Beckir

Music Conductor

Herbert Beckir

David Beedon

David Behar

Cg Artist (Pixel Magic)

Bob Beher

Sound Effects Editor

Tom Bellfort

Supervising Sound Editor

Portia Belmont

Script Supervisor

Luca Benetti

Dailies Assistant (Italy)

Mark Berger

Music Supervisor

Beverly Bernacki

Mauro Berti

Wardrobe Assistant

Alfredo Betro

"A" Camera Operator

Chiara Bettinelli

Oscar Beuselinck

Second Assistant Director

Jodi Birdsong

Visual Effects Producer

Bryan Blair

Senior Special Effects Technician (Tunnicliffe'S Two Hours In The Dark, Inc)

William Peter Blatty

Source Material (From Novel:"The Exorcist")

Mathieu Blouin

Character Animator (Meteor Studios)

Andrew Bohn

Production Executive

Genevieve Boisvert

Visual Effects Coordinator (Meteor Studios)

Blake Bolger

Special Effects Assistant (Tunnicliffe'S Two Hours In The Dark, Inc)

Danilo Bollettini

Special Effects Supervisor

Alessandro Borjese

Stunt Performer

Piero Bosi

Reine Bourgault

Lighting Artist (Meteor Studios)

David Bradnum

Music ("Luo Drums"), Music ("Sengenya")

Frederic Breault

Matchmove Lead (Meteor Studios)

Edo Brizio

Rotoscope Artist

Philippe Brochu

Cg Modeler (Meteor Studios)

Jennifer Bunting

Post-Production Assistant

Norma Burke

Assistant Accountant

Jeremy Burns

Paul Cadiou

Giuseppe Cafagna

Daniele Cafolla

Filippo Cafolla

Rosario Calascibetta

Assistant Props (2nd Unit)

D Walt Cameron

David Campbell

Technocrane Technician

Gilles Cannatella

Second Assistant Director (2nd Unit)

Marie-france Caouette

Visual Effects Assistant Producer (Digital Dimension)

Gerardo Carbilla

Stand-In (For Mr D'Arcy)

Massimo Cardajoli

Special Effects Technician

Marco Carosi

Director Of Photography (2nd Unit)

Marco Carosi

Dp/Cinematographer

Caleb Carr

Lorenzo Carrera

Office Production Assistant

Alessandro Cattaneo

Cristina Cecili

Hughie Charles

Song ("We'Ll Meet Again")

Alessandro Chiodo

"B" Camera Clapper Loader

Piera Cimino

Gianpiero Cirotto

Set Production Assistant

Tim Clark

Lead Matte Painter

Eric Clement

Cg Effects Artist (Meteor Studios)

Harry Cohen

Supervising Sound Editor

Gabrizio Corbucci

Stefano Corridori

Special Effects Technician

Alessandro Costaneo

Sound Assistant

Stephane Cote

Technical Director (Digital Dimension)

Daniel Coupal

Compositor (Digital Dimension)

David Crawford

Compositing Supervisor (Radish)

Maurizio Cremisini

Focus Puller (2nd Unit)

Steve Cummings

Digital Effects Artist (Kleiser-Walczak Construction Company Inc)

Joe D'alessandro

Frank D'lorio

Compositor (Meteor Studios)

Hayat Ouled Dahhou

Kate Dain

Adr Coordinator (Uk)

Clay Dale

Cg Artist (Pixel Magic)

Paul Davies

Cg Artist (Pixel Magic)

Gioncarlo De Leonardis

Emma Deacon

Special Effects Assistant (Tunnicliffe'S Two Hours In The Dark, Inc)

Sam Debree

Special Effects Assistant (Tunnicliffe'S Two Hours In The Dark, Inc)

Jeff Deist

Mold Designer (Tunnicliffe'S Two Hours In The Dark, Inc)

Chris Del Conte

Visual Effects Producer (Digital Dimension)

Barbara Deleonardis

Aaron Dem

Visual Effects Executive Producer (Meteor Studios)

Aaron Deneberg

Digital Intermediate Line-Up (Technicolor Digital Intermediates)

Luca Desantis

Marc Desmarais

Texture Artist (Meteor Studios)

Umberto Dessena

Ivan Dewolf

Sequence Lead (Elements Studios)

Carlo Di Bianca

Grip Van Driver

Massimo Di Domenico

Electrician (2nd Unit)

Walter Di Masi

Electrician (2nd Unit)

Matthieu Di Muro

Character Animator (Digital Dimension)

Piernicola Di Muro

"A" Camera Clapper Loader

Fabrizio Diamanti

Mauro Diamanti

Roberto Diamanti

Electrician (2nd Unit)

Bruno Riccardo Diluia

Stunt Soldier (2nd Unit)

Pam Dixon Mickelson

Thai Son Doan

Compositor (Digital Dimension)

Paolo Dragone

Extras Casting Assistant

Tommaso Dubla

Ronald Dunlap

Music ("Hurry Back")

Tony Dustin

Digital Color Assist (Technicolor Digital Intermediates)

Sebastion Dzininski

Utility Stand-In

Jason Edward

Lead Technical Artist (Meteor Studios)

Robert Emrich

Christopher English

Digital Effects Artist (Kleiser-Walczak Construction Company Inc)

Timothy Farrell

Sound Effects Editor

Filippo Fassetta

Second Assistant Director

Barbara Ferrara

Craft Service Assistant

Frank Fleming

Sound Recordist

Paul Flinchbaugh

Digital Assistant

Richard Flores

Character Animator (Meteor Studios)

Marco Foglia

Character Animator (Meteor Studios)

Nick Foley

Adr Studio Assistant (Uk)

Francesco Fonda

Set Decorator Assistant

Bruce Franklin

First Assistant Director

Andy Fraser

Production Executive

Rob Freitas

Mold Designer (Tunnicliffe'S Two Hours In The Dark, Inc)

Michel Frenette

Compositor (Meteor Studios)

Spence Fuller

Johanna Gavard

Editorial Intern

Giovanni Gebbia

"B" Camera Operator

Giovanni Gebbia

Steadicam Operator

Roberto Gentili

"A" Camera Focus Puller

Carlo Gervasi

Nerses Gezalyan

Ben Girard

Visual Effects Supervisor

Benoit 'ben' Girard

Senior Visual Effects Supervisor (Digital Dimension)

Mark Goldblatt

Benny Goodman And His Orchestra

Song Performer ("We'Ll Meet Again")

Trevor Goring

Storyboard Artist

Dale Grahn

Charles Granger

Compositor (Digital Dimension)

Christopher K. Grap

Special Effects Assistant (Tunnicliffe'S Two Hours In The Dark, Inc)

Leslie D Guettler

Editorial Intern

Buff Hall

Additional Casting

Spinny Hall

2-D Artist (Elements Studios)

Laura Hanigan

Digital Effects Artist (Kleiser-Walczak Construction Company Inc)

Mike Hardison

Cg Supervisor (Pixel Magic)

Tom Hardisty

Assistant Music Engineer

Catherine Harper

Eric Harris

Painter (Tunnicliffe'S Two Hours In The Dark, Inc)

Allen Hartz

Dialogue Editor

Motoyoshi Hata

Sculptor (Tunnicliffe'S Two Hours In The Dark, Inc)

Alexi Hawley

Jamie Hellman

Character Animator (Meteor Studios)

Mo Henry

Negative Cutter

Alex Hernandez

Daniel Hernandez

Cg Effects Artist (Meteor Studios)

Michel Heroux

Visual Effects Producer (Digital Dimension)

Peter Highfield

Painter (Tunnicliffe'S Two Hours In The Dark, Inc)

Jason Hill

Cg Artist (Pixel Magic)

Steven Hodge

Chris Holmes

Digital Compositing Supervisor (Kleiser-Walczak Construction Company Inc)

Dominic Hyman

Property Master

Raffaella Iorio

Key Makeup Artist

Stephanie A. Ito

Digital Intermediate Producer (Technicolor Digital Intermediates)

Joni Jacobson

Lucas Janin

Cg Effects Artist (Meteor Studios)

Chris Jenkins

Supervising Sound Mixer

Brian Jennings

Visual Effects Supervisor

Ken J Johnson

Sound Effects Editor

Trent Johnson

Digital Film Colorist (Technicolor Digital Intermediates)

Antti Jokinen

Set Production Assistant

Akouala Cristel Julien

Stunt Performer

Geoffrey Kahn

Aramaic Consultant

Michael Kamper

Sound Effects Editor

Bonnie L. Kanner

Visual Effects Executive Producer (Pixel Magic)

Zeeshan Karimi

Digital Effects Artist (Kleiser-Walczak Construction Company Inc)

Taryn P. Kelly

Visual Effects Coordinator (Digital Dimension)

Larry Kemp

Film Details

Also Known As

Exorcist 4:1, Exorcist: Dominion, Exorcisten: Begynnelsen, exorciste, au commencement

MPAA Rating

Genre

Adaptation

Horror

Sequel

Release Date

2004

Production Company

Cinecitta Studios; Digital Dimension; Future Post; Iride; Luigi Pini; Morgan Creek Entertainment Group; Morgan Creek International; Pacific Title & Art Studio; Pixel Magic; Signet Sound Studio; Sync Or Swim; Technicolor; Two Hours In The Dark, Inc; Universal Studios Sound Facilities; Warner Bros. Pictures; Zak Productions

Distribution Company

WARNER BROS. PICTURES DISTRIBUTION (WBPD); Warner Bros. Pictures Distribution; Lumière Publishing; Nu-Metro; Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group; Warner Bros. Pictures Distribution; Warner Bros. Pictures International

Location

Morocco; Rome, Italy; United Kingdom; United States; Spain

Technical Specs

Duration

1h 53m

Quotes

Trivia

Miscellaneous Notes

Released in United States Summer August 20, 2004

Released in United States on Video March 1, 2005

Released in United States August 2005

Shown at Edinburgh Film Festival (Gala) August 17-28, 2005.

William Peter Blatty's novel, "The Exorcist," was first published in 1971.

Prequel to the classic horror film "The Exorcist" (USA/1973), directed by William Friedkin and starring Max Von Sydow, Jason Miller and Linda Blair.

Clara Bellar was written out of the script in the re-shoots and replaced by a new female lead played by Isabella Scorupco.

Gabriel Mann was replaced as Father William Francis in the re-shoots due to a scheduling conflict.

Lead actor Liam Neeson left during pre-production and was replaced by Stellan Skarsgård.

Tom McLoughlin was previously attached to direct.

Feature screenwriting debut for best-selling author Caleb Carr.

In 2002, a version based on a script by Caleb Carr was greenlit by Morgan Creek. During pre-production, the project's first director, John Frankenheimer, suffered a stroke and died. Paul Schrader stepped in. Principal photography took place in Morocco and Italy, wrapping in early 2003. But Schrader's $40-million production was scrapped. Schrader was dismissed and Renny Harlin was brought in. Although elements of Schrader's version remain, "The Exorcist: The Beginning" was rewritten, recast (with Skarsgard persuaded to return) and re-shot - at an additional cost of nearly $60 million. Director Paul Schrader's original version of the film will be given a limited threatrical release by Warner Bros. on May 20, 2005.

Billy Crawford was also excluded in the re-shoots.

Released in United States Summer August 20, 2004

Released in United States on Video March 1, 2005

Released in United States August 2005 (Shown at Edinburgh Film Festival (Gala) August 17-28, 2005.)

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