Trivia for
The Exorcist III (1990) More at IMDbPro »

• Asked how he is able to get in and out of jail without being seen, The Gemini Killer (Brad Dourif) replies: "It's child's play." The camera cuts to a young, red-headed boy who looks a lot like the Chucky doll. Dourif provides the voice of Chucky in Child's Play (1988) and its sequels.
  
  
• The story was inspired by the murders of the real-life serial killer, "The Zodiac."
  
  
• The University President claims that his favorite movie is The Fly (1986). Lee Richardson, the actor who plays him, starred in The Fly II (1989).
  
  
• William Peter Blatty wanted the film to be titled simply "Legion", just like his novel of the same name. Even though Blatty opposed, the title was changed to "The Exorcist III."
  
  
• In the initial stages of the film, William Peter Blatty didn't made this film as a direct sequel of The Exorcist (1973). Jason Miller was also not cast. In fact, scenes of Father Karras' death were shot using Brad Dourif. One scene in particular had George C. Scott examining Dourif' (Karras') body on an operating table after the priest's death. Jason Miller was cast because James G. Robinson decided that, after showing the film to test audiences, a member of the original cast of The Exorcist (1973) should appear in the film. When this decision was made, William Peter Blatty was forced to rewrote parts of the script, particularly those involving the Gemini Killer. The result is the schizophrenic conflict between the Gemini Killer and Father Karras (Dourif and Miller respectively) that exists in the film.
  
  
• William Peter Blatty made the film based on his novel "Legion," which was published on 1 August 1983. Morgan Creek decided to call it "Exorcist: Legion" even though the screenplay and novel featured no exorcisms. After principal photography completed, Morgan Creek noticed the misleading nature of the title. So Morgan Creek demanded that additional scenes need be written and added into the film to made this film becoming a direct sequel of The Exorcist (1973). Morgan Creek also changed this film's title to "The Exorcist III."
  
  
• William Peter Blatty offered directorial responsibilities to John Carpenter. Carpenter turned him down, and Blatty ended up directing the picture himself.
  
  
• The lines recited by the Gemini Killer in the cell ("Death be not proud...") are from a poem by John Donne.
  
  
• Some lobby cards show scenes that were cut from the film, such as a scene with a beheaded priest.
  
  
• Cameo: [Samuel L. Jackson] as a blind man in the dream sequence. His voice is dubbed for his one line.
  
  
• Cameo: [Larry King] as Himself in The Tombs, a local Georgetown restaurant where Kinderman has lunch with Father Dyer.
  
  
• Cameo: [Dr. C. Everett Koop] as Himself in The Tombs, a local Georgetown restaurant where Kinderman has lunch with Father Dyer.
  
  
• Cameo: [Patrick Ewing] as the angel next to Father Dyer in the dream sequence.
  
  
• Cameo: [Fabio] as an angel in the dream sequence.
  
  
• William Peter Blatty had to recast the central role of Lieutenant Kinderman as Lee J. Cobb, who played the part in The Exorcist (1973), died in 1976. George C. Scott, who had never seen "The Exorcist", signed up for the role after being impressed by Blatty's "Legion" screenplay.
  
  
• Ed Flanders was originally supposed to appear as the asylum warden, Dr. Temple, but assumed the role of Father Dyer as Reverend William O'Malley (who played the part in The Exorcist (1973)) was too busy to reprise the role.
  
  
• Nicol Williamson, once considered by William Peter Blatty for the role of Colonel Vincent Kane in The Ninth Configuration (1980), appears in this movie as Father Morning (a late addition to the film during production).
  
  
• William Peter Blatty hand-picked Shakespearean-trained actor and Genie nominee Grand L. Bush to act opposite George C. Scott in the role of Sgt. Adkins.
  
  
• William Peter Blatty had hoped to recover the deleted footage from the Morgan Creek vaults so that he might re-assemble the original cut of the film which he said was "rather different" from what was released. Unfortunately for Blatty and for the fans who had been clamoring for such a release, the footage was never found. On 28 June 2007, Blatty's wife sent the following comment to a fan site: "My husband tells me that it is Morgan Creek's claim that they have lost all the footage, including an alternate opening scene in which Kinderman views the body of Karras in the morgue, right after his fall down the steps. What a shame."
  
  
• Lines spoken by The Gemini Killer are used as the intro to a 'Children of Bodom' song, 'Taste of My Scythe'.
  
  
• Favorite film of serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer.
  
  
• Originally to be directed by William Friedkin, who had directed the original Exorcist, but he lost interest. Cast member George C. Scott would, however, eventually get the chance to work with Friedkin by appearing as Juror #3 in 'Twelve Angry Men (1997)(TV)'. Interestingly, both Lt. Kinderman and Juror #3 were roles previously played by Lee J. Cobb.
  
  

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