Hollywood star Jamie Lee Curtis has disclosed a fascinating piece of cinematic 'what if', revealing she was nearly put forward to audition for the iconic role of the possessed Regan MacNeil in the 1973 horror classic The Exorcist.
A Mother's Protective Instinct
Speaking on The Drew Barrymore Show, Curtis recounted how a producer for the film, based on William Peter Blatty's bestselling novel, contacted her mother, the late actress Janet Leigh. The producer asked if the then-12-year-old Curtis could try out for the part, which would ultimately make a star of Linda Blair.
"He called my mom and said, 'Hey, I'm producing the movie of the book The Exorcist. Will you let Jamie audition for it?'" Curtis told Barrymore. She believes the producer, having seen her at a social event, thought her "cute and kind of sassy" personality would be a good fit. However, her mother's answer was a firm and definitive 'no'.
Grateful for a Sheltered Childhood
Curtis expressed profound gratitude for her mother's decision, stating it allowed her to experience a normal childhood—a luxury she acknowledged many child actors, including Barrymore herself, did not have. "My mom really wanted me to have, thank God, a childhood, which I understand you didn't get," she said to Barrymore.
Drew Barrymore began her acting career at just five years old in the film Altered States, before her star-making role in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial two years later. Curtis, by contrast, did not begin acting until she was 19, first on television before her legendary film debut as Laurie Strode in John Carpenter's Halloween in 1978.
The Legacy of The Exorcist and a New Chapter
The original Exorcist film was a monumental success, both critically and commercially. It earned nearly $441 million worldwide and received ten Academy Award nominations, winning two. Its cultural impact has endured for decades.
The franchise is now poised for a revival under the guidance of acclaimed horror writer-director Mike Flanagan. Following the poorly received The Exorcist: Believer in 2023, Flanagan—known for The Haunting of Hill House—was tasked with developing a fresh story. It was announced last month that Scarlett Johansson has joined this new project, which is described as a "radical new take" set within the original film's universe. The movie will be produced by Flanagan's Red Room Pictures, alongside Blumhouse-Atomic Monster and Morgan Creek Entertainment for Universal Pictures.
