THE EXORCIST
(Fridays, 9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT)
Widely regarded as the greatest horror movie ever made, “The Exorcist” broke box office
records and terrified audiences around the world. Now, more than four decades after the
Academy Award-nominated film, THE EXORCIST returns as a TV series.
Directed by Rupert Wyatt (“Rise of the Planet of the Apes”), THE EXORCIST is a
propulsive psychological thriller following two very different priests tackling one family’s case of
horrifying demonic possession. FATHER TOMAS ORTEGA (Alfonso Herrera, “Sense8,” “The
Chosen”) is the new face of the Catholic Church: progressive, ambitious and compassionate. He
runs a small, but loyal, parish in the suburbs of Chicago. He has no idea that his quiet life is about
to change forever. Deep in the slums of Mexico City, another priest has found himself locked in a
life-and-death struggle with evil. FATHER MARCUS KEANE (Ben Daniels, “Flesh and Bone,”
“House of Cards”) is a modern-day Templar Knight, an orphan raised since childhood by the
Vatican to wage war against its enemies. Father Marcus is everything Father Tomas is not:
relentless, abrasive and utterly consumed by his mission – and he constantly butts heads with his
adversary within the church, FATHER BENNETT (Kurt Egyiawan, “Beasts of No Nation”).
Caught in the middle of the two priests is the RANCE family, who are members of Tomas’
parish. On the surface, they’re a normal, American family, but all is not as it seems in this
household. The patriarch, HENRY RANCE (Alan Ruck, “Spin City,” “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”), is
recovering from a traumatic injury. Eldest daughter KATHERINE (Brianne Howey, SCREAM
QUEENS) has become a recluse who refuses to leave her room. Her younger sister, CASEY
(Hannah Kasulka, “The Fosters”), thinks she’s hearing strange noises coming from inside the
walls. And mother ANGELA (Academy Award and Golden Globe winner Geena Davis,
“Commander in Chief,” “Thelma & Louise”) believes there is something in the house, a demonic
presence, growing stronger by the day. Desperate, she begs Father Tomas for help, unwittingly
setting the naïve young priest on a collision course with Father Marcus. Separately, each faces
an insurmountable task, but together they become the Rances’ only hope against an evil force
that has been mobilizing for centuries.
THE EXORCIST is from Morgan Creek Productions in association with 20th Century Fox
Television. The series was created by Jeremy Slater (“Fantastic Four”). The series is executiveproduced by Slater, Emmy Award nominee Rolin Jones (“Friday Night Lights,” “Weeds”), Rupert
Wyatt, Roy Lee (“Hidden,” “Run All Night”) James Robinson (“Dream House”), David Robinson
(“Dream House,” “The Good Shepherd”) and Barbara Wall (“Boss”). Wyatt also served as director
on the pilot. “Like” THE EXORCIST on Facebook at facebook.com/The Exorcist FOX. Follow the
series on Twitter @TheExorcistFOX and join the discussion using #TheExorcist. See photos and
videos on Instagram by following @TheExorcistFOX.
-FOX-
“THE EXORCIST” – FACT SHEET
ON AIR:
Fridays, 9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT
ORIGINATION:
Los Angeles, CA
CONCEPT:
Widely regarded as the greatest horror movie ever made,
Academy Award-nominated “The Exorcist” terrified
audiences around the world. Now, more than four decades
later, THE EXORCIST returns as a contemporary
psychological TV thriller following two very different priests
tackling one family’s case of terrifying demonic possession.
.
SERIES PREMIERE:
Sept. 23, 2016
STARRING:
Alfonso Herrera as Father Tomas Ortega
Ben Daniels as Father Marcus Keane
Geena Davis as Angela Rance
Alan Ruck as Henry Rance
Brianne Howey as Katherine Rance
Hannah Kasulka as Casey Rance
Kurt Egyiawan as Father Bennett
PRODUCED BY:
20th Century Fox Television
Morgan Creek Productions
CREATOR/WRITER:
Jeremy Slater
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS:
Jeremy Slater
Rolin Jones
Rupert Wyatt
Roy Lee
James Robinson
David Robinson
Barbara Wall
DIRECTOR (Pilot)
Rupert Wyatt
PRESS CONTACTS:
Michael Roach / FOX
310-369-7055
[email protected]
Erin Moody / 20th Century Fox Television
310-369-1044
[email protected]
FOX WEBSITE/APP:
fox.com/the-exorcist / FOX NOW
-more-
“THE EXORCIST” FACT SHEET – Page 2
SOCIAL MEDIA:
Facebook:
Twitter:
Instagram:
-FOX-
The ExorcistFOX
@TheExorcistFOX / #TheExorcist
@TheExorcistFOX
GEENA DAVIS
(Angela Rance on
THE EXORCIST)
Academy Award winner Geena Davis, one of Hollywood’s most respected actors, is
recognized for her tireless advocacy of gender equality in media nearly as much as for her acting
accomplishments. She is the Founder and Chair of the non-profit Geena Davis Institute on Gender
in Media, which is successfully influencing film and television content creators to dramatically
increase the percentages of female characters – and reduce gender stereotyping – in media
targeting children 11 and under.
In 2015, Davis launched the Bentonville Film Festival (BFF), an unprecedented initiative
in support of women and diversity in the entertainment industry, and serves as its Co-Founder
and Chair. BFF provides a platform to significantly boost the commercial value of content
produced by and starring minorities and women. This initiative is the only film festival in the world
to provide guaranteed theatrical, television, digital and home entertainment distribution for the
winners.
In 2012, Davis was appointed Special Envoy for Women and Girls in Information and
Communication Technology (ICT) for the United Nations’ International Telecommunication Union
(ITU). She is an official partner of UN Women, working toward its goal of promoting gender
equality and empowering women worldwide. Davis is also the Chair of the California Commission
on the Status of Women.
Davis was recently awarded the Women in Motion Award from Kering and the Cannes
Film Festival, for her contributions to the movie industry and women’s empowerment, as part of
a program that aims to support female professionals in the film business.
As an actor, Davis has appeared in several roles that have become cultural landmarks.
Earning the 2006 Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series
– Drama, Davis broke ground in her portrayal of the first female President of the United States on
“Commander in Chief.”
In 1989, Davis received the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in
Lawrence Kasdan’s “The Accidental Tourist.” She was again nominated for an Academy Award
and a Golden Globe Award for her performance as “Thelma” in Ridley Scott’s “Thelma and
Louise.” Davis went on to receive a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Actress for her work
in “A League of Their Own.” Other credits include iconic films such as “Tootsie,” “The Fly,”
“Beetlejuice,” “The Long Kiss Goodnight” and “Stuart Little.”
-more-
“THE EXORCIST” BIOS – Page 2
Few have achieved such remarkable success in as many different fields as Davis has:
she is not only an award-winning actor, but also a world-class athlete (at one time the nation’s
13th top-ranked archer and a semi-finalist in the Olympic trials) and a member of the genius society
Mensa. Davis holds honorary degrees from Boston University, Bates College and New England
College.
She lives in Los Angeles.
ALFONSO HERRERA
(Father Tomas Ortega on
THE EXORCIST)
Alfonso Herrera is perhaps best known to U.S. audiences for his featured role in creator
Lilly Wachowski’s “Sense8.” He also will star in director Antonio Chavarría’s feature film, “The
Chosen,” set for release later this year.
Herrera rose to stardom on “Rebelde,” one of the most successful television series in the
history of Latin America. In addition to “Rebelde,” Herrera was part of the band RBD, which has
garnered more than 89 awards, including the Billboard Latin Music Award for Best International
Band.
“Rebelde’s” success made Herrera a household name in Mexico, leading him to star in a
number of projects, including “Mujeres Asesinas,” produced by Pedro Torres; and Luis Estrada’s
2014 political satire, “The Perfect Dictatorship,” which became the fourth highest-grossing movie
in Mexican film history.
Herrera lives in Mexico City.
BEN DANIELS
(Father Marcus Keane on
THE EXORCIST)
Ben Daniels is known for his impressive work in theater, television and film. Among his
recent credits are a starring role on the cable series “Flesh and Bone” and a recurring role on the
TV series “House of Cards.” Additional credits include British TV miniseries “Jamaica Inn” and
“The Hollow Crown,” and British TV series “The Paradise” and “Law and Order: UK.”
-more-
“THE EXORCIST” BIOS – Page 3
Daniels’ recent film credits include “Luna,” “Jack the Giant Slayer” and the voice of
“Gareth” in “Locke,” alongside Tom Hardy. Previous film credits include “The Wipers Times,”
“Doom,” “Married Unmarried,” “Fanny and Elvis,” “Madeline,” “I Want You,” “Passion in the Desert”
and “Beautiful Thing.”
Previous television credits include “Merlin,” “Women in Love,” “The Last Days of Lehman
Brothers,” “The Passion,” “Lark Rise to Candleford,” “Who Killed Mrs. De Ropp,” “The State
Within,” “Ian Fleming: Bondmaker,” “The Virgin Queen,” “MI-5,” “Agatha Christie’s Marple: What
Mrs. McGillicuddy Saw,” “Real Men,” “Cutting It,” “Conspiracy,” “Aristocrats,” “Silent Witness,”
“Britannic,” “David,” “Outside Edge,” “The Inspector Alleyn Mysteries,” “Death at the Bar,” “Truth
or Dare,” “Romeo and Juliet” and “The Lost Language of Cranes.”
On stage, Daniels last starred in the Broadway revival of “Don’t Dress for Dinner” in 2012.
He also appeared in “Haunted Child” and “Luise Miller” in 2011. He first starred on Broadway in
“Les Liaisons Dangereuses” in 2008, for which he earned a Tony Award nomination for Best
Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play, and was the winner of a TWA Award for Outstanding
Broadway debut. Additional theater credits include “Never the Sinner,” “Entertaining Mr. Sloane,”
“Waiting for Godot,” “900 Oneonta,” “Martin Yesterday,” “Naked,” “As You Like It,” “All My Sons,”
“Tales from Hollywood,” “Three Sisters,” “Iphigenia at Aulis,” “The God of Hell,” “The Wild Duck”
and “Therese Raguin.” He received an Olivier Award and a WhatsOnStage Award for his
performance in “All My Sons.”
Daniels began his career studying at London’s LAMDA Drama School.
He resides in London.
ALAN RUCK
(Henry Rance on
THE EXORCIST)
Alan Ruck is perhaps best known for his co-starring roles in the blockbuster comedy
“Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” and the hit TV series “Spin City.”
Ruck was born in Cleveland, OH, where his mother taught school and his father worked
for a pharmaceutical company. At the University of Illinois, he majored in theater, and performed
in summer stock in central Illinois. After graduation, he headed for Chicago, where he began
working with some of the area’s most prestigious theater companies, including the Wisdom Bridge
Theatre, the Goodman Theatre and the Apollo Theatre. In Chicago, he starred in numerous stage
productions. He also appeared in the feature films “Class” and “Bad Boy,” and the telefilms “First
Steps” and “Hard Knox.”
-more-
“THE EXORCIST” BIOS – Page 4
Ruck left Chicago for New York, where he appeared on Broadway for nine months,
creating the character of “Don Carney” in Neil Simon’s “Biloxi Blues.” After director John Hughes
came to see star Matthew Broderick in the show, Ruck ended up with the second lead in “Ferris
Bueller’s Day Off.”
Since then, Ruck’s other films have included “Goats,” “Extraordinary Measures,” “I Love
You Beth Cooper,” “Ghost Town,” “Cheaper by the Dozen,” “Three for the Road,” “Bloodhounds
of Broadway,” “Three Fugitives,” “Young Guns II,” “Star Trek: Generations,” “Speed” and
“Twister.”
In addition to “Spin City,” in which he co-starred opposite Michael J. Fox, Ruck’s other TV
credits include the miniseries “Bronx is Burning”; the telefilm “Shooter”; the comedies “Going
Places” and “Muscle”; a guest-starring role on cable’s “Outer Limits”; and a recurring role on “Mad
About You.”
His most recent television appearances have included “Major Crimes,” “Justified,” “Hot in
Cleveland” and “Masters of Sex.”
On stage, he appeared in the first national tour production of the Mel Brooks hit musical
“The Producers” in 2005. He also appeared in the Off-Broadway production “Absurd Person
Singular.”
Ruck lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Mireille, and has four children.
JEREMY SLATER
(Creator/Executive Producer,
THE EXORCIST)
Jeremy Slater has written for film, television, graphic novels and video games. His credits
include “The Lazarus Effect,” “Pet,” “Fantastic Four” and the upcoming adaptation of “Death Note.”
He resides in Los Angeles.
-more-
“THE EXORCIST” BIOS – Page 5
RUPERT WYATT
(Director/Executive Producer,
THE EXORCIST)
Writer, director and producer Rupert Wyatt was born and raised in the south of England.
He is the founding member of the Film Collective Picture Farm that, aside from its prolific
commercial output, has produced numerous documentaries and feature films, including the multiaward-winning “Dark Days” (2001) and “Fishing without Nets” (2014), both audience award
winners at the Sundance Film Festival. His directorial debut was “The Escapist,” starring Brian
Cox, Damian Lewis, Dominic Cooper and Joseph Fiennes, which premiered at the Sundance Film
Festival and was nominated for eight international awards.
As a screenwriter, he has worked in France for producers Claudie Ossard (“Amelie”) and
Jean-Pierre Ramsay (“Total Eclipse”); and in the U.K. and U.S., where he has written screenplays
for 20th Century Fox, Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros., Universal Studios and Sony Pictures
Entertainment.
His second film as director was 20th Century Fox’s “Rise of the Planet of the Apes”
(2011), starring Andy Serkis. Since its release, the film has seen enormous success worldwide,
both critically and commercially, spawning one sequel and a second soon to be released.
In 2013, he directed the pilot episode of “Turn,” which is currently airing its third season.
In 2014, his third film as director, “The Gambler,” was released, starring Mark Wahlberg,
Brie Larson, John Goodman and Jessica Lange.
He currently lives in Los Angeles and New York with his wife, filmmaker Erica Beeney,
and their three children.
-FOX-