The Exorcist (film) shot that obscured his face, as Friedkin felt that Vandis's face would be connected with his previous role in the Woody Allen film "Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex* (*But Were Afraid to Ask)". Vandis had previously played Milos Stavros, an Armenian shepherd who was in love with a sheep. Warners had approached Arthur Penn, Stanley Kubrick, and Mike Nichols, to direct, all of whom turned the project down. Originally Mark Rydell was hired to direct, but William Peter Blatty insisted on Friedkin instead, because he wanted his film to have the same energy as Friedkin's previous film,
Elliott Gould abandoned after four days of shooting, following rumours that Gould was addicted to drugs, something the actor has strenuously denied. Gould and his producing partner helped make "Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex* (*But Were Afraid to Ask)", later selling it to United Artists. He was reportedly offered the lead role in "Pocket Money", but turned it down because he did not want to work with director Stuart Rosenberg again after his experience making "Move". Gould's comeback came in 1973's "The Long Goodbye", Robert Altman's adaptation of Raymond Chandler's novel. Gould starred as detective Philip Marlowe, a role