Exorcist: The Believer's theatrical release date on October 13 was rescheduled due to Taylor Swift's announcement of her Eras Tour concert film being released on the same day. In order to avoid a conflict with the anticipated success of Swift's film, the studio responsible for Exorcist, Blumhouse, decided to move the movie's premiere up by one week.
Jason Blum, the head of Blumhouse, recently shared his thoughts on this decision in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, stating, "Taylor Swift is the one thing that truly terrifies me!"
Shifting the date was a significant decision, according to Blum, who believed that Friday the 13th in October would be the perfect day to release a thrilling movie. At one point, Blum toyed with the idea of creating a Barbenheimer-like "Exorswift" moment by retaining the original date. However, he ultimately chose to reschedule The Believer to avoid a direct clash.
"We clearly changed our plans and showed our respect to Taylor Swift," Blum revealed. "It was too risky to test the waters with 'Exorswift' and see if it would be successful. Nevertheless, fans will still have the opportunity to experience Exorswift, so perhaps we can have the best of both worlds."
Directed by David Gordon Green, known for his recent work on the Halloween movies, Believer features a talented ensemble cast including Leslie Odom Jr., Lidya Jewett, and Olivia Marcum. The film also marks the long-awaited return of Oscar-winner Ellen Burstyn, reprising her role from the original 1973 classic, The Exorcist.
Meanwhile, the highly anticipated Eras Tour concert movie serves as a cinematic adaptation of the ongoing concert series. Already breaking pre-sale records at AMC, many industry experts predict that it has the potential to gross over $100 million during its opening weekend.
Swift's popularity is skyrocketing thanks to the fervor and curiosity surrounding her romantic involvement with Travis Kelce, an NFL superstar. The increased buzz surrounding Swift is advantageous for the success of her film, which is anticipated to witness a surge in marketing and promotional efforts in the upcoming days and weeks.
