‘The Pope’s Exorcist’ Sequel will Happen

Russell Crowe will now slip back into a cassock as the real-life Father Gabriele Amorth, who spent years working on possession cases for the Vatican.

(L to R) Daniel Zovatto and Russell Crowe in Sony Pictures 'The Pope's Exorcist.'

Preview:

A sequel to ‘The Pope’s Exorcist’ is confirmed.
Producer Jeff Katz revealed the news.
Russell Crowe is not officially announced yet but is likely to return.

Possessing the public consciousness thanks to its trailer –– in which Russell Crowe’s character encouraged a panel of stuffy priests to take his actions up with his boss (the Pope!) –– ‘The Pope’s Exorcist’ did decent business last year (more than $76.9 million from an $18 million budget).

Which might explain why plans are now apparently under way for the sequel that some of the movie’s team hinted at when the original came out.

The news was announced by producer Jeff Katz. Here’s Katz’s social media post making the announcement:

What was the story of ‘The Pope’s Exorcist?

(L to R) Daniel Zovatto and Russell Crowe in Sony Pictures 'The Pope's Exorcist.'

Based on the real-life religious figure Father Gabriele Amorth, ‘The Pope’s Exorcist’ focuses on Amorth being dispatched by the Vatican to help a young American boy in Spain who has become possessed by a demon.

But he also ends up uncovering a centuries-old conspiracy the Vatican has desperately tried to keep hidden.

Crowe’s take on the character was an amusing one –– puttering around on a scooter and making light of demonic threats. But he steps up when needed, putting his life on the line.

The Pope's Exorcist

"Inspired by the actual files of Father Gabriele Amorth, Chief Exorcist of the Vatican."

R1 hr 43 minApr 14th, 2023

Showtimes & Tickets

Watch The Pope's Exorcist Online

What will happen in the ‘Pope’s Exorcist’ sequel?

Russell Crowe as Father Gabriele Amorth in Sony Pictures 'The Pope's Exorcist.'

Russell Crowe (Right) as Father Gabriele Amorth in Sony Pictures 'The Pope's Exorcist.'

While the ending of the first film certainly teased potential sequels, with Amorth being introduced to a team responding to possessions and other religious mysteries, nothing has been announced about the story for any new movie.

But here’s what Crowe said to a TV talk show called ‘The Six O’clock Show’:

“The producers originally got the kick off from the studio not just for one sequel but for two. But there's been a change of studio heads at the moment, so that’s going around in a few circles. But very definitely, man. We set that character up that you could take him out and put him into a lot of different circumstances. And remember that the man that’s based on, Gabriele Amorth, he wrote twelve books. So we have more than enough source material to do one or two more of those films. But that probably won’t be until next year.”

Who will appear in ‘The Pope’s Exorcist’?

(L to R) Alex Essoe, Russell Crowe and Daniel Zovatto in Sony Pictures 'The Pope's Exorcist.'

While Crowe would surely return, the rest of the cast at this time is a mystery since it’ll feature a new case. Though we could see Daniel Zovatto once more play Father Esquibel and a potential reappearance of Franco Nero as The Pope. Because after all, without him, the film is just ‘The Exorcist’ and that title has been taken already.

When will ‘The Pope’s Exorcist’ sequel be in theaters?

Screen Gems has yet to offer its own confirmation of the sequel, and we doubt it would be ready much before 2026 at this point, unless the team has already been at work on the script.