Exorcist II: The Heretic with the idea of directing a sequel, explaining that "every film has to struggle to find a connection with its audience. Here I saw the chance to make an extremely ambitious film without having to spend the time developing this connection. I could make assumptions and then take the audience on a very adventurous cinematic journey." Linda Blair agreed to reprise her role of Regan MacNeil for "Exorcist II", but refused to wear demon make-up (a double was used for the brief flashback scenes depicting a demonic Regan). Max von Sydow was persuaded by Boorman to reprise the role of
Exorcist II: The Heretic with flashbacks in "Exorcist II". Although this same exorcism becomes the central plot line for the most recent "Exorcist" movies "" and "", little effort was made to keep the stories consistent. The boy is not named Kokumo, and the locations and circumstances of the exorcism do not resemble "Exorcist II: The Heretic" even remotely. Ultimately it is revealed from "Exorcist: The Beginning" that the African boy is not the one actually afflicted; it turns out to be another character entirely that is possessed. However, "Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist" does show the African boy being the person who was