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Regan MacNeil

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Regan MacNeil
The Exorcist character
First appearanceThe Exorcist
Last appearanceExorcist II: The Heretic
Created byWilliam Peter Blatty
Portrayed byLinda Blair

Regan Theresa MacNeil (born 1961) is a fictional character from William Peter Blatty's horror novel and film, The Exorcist and its first sequel, Exorcist II: The Heretic. In both films, she was portrayed by Linda Blair.

Character

Regan MacNeil is a 12-year-old girl and the daughter of actress, Chris MacNeil. Regan is caught between her mother's grueling working schedule and the fact that her parents are in the process of an acrimonious divorce (her father is in Europe and is not seen in the movie).

She is described as shy, even diffident, and it is not within her nature to behave aggressively. She is devoted to her mother, making clay animals as gifts for her and leaving a rose at her place at the kitchen table each morning. Chris is determined to be a good mother, spending all her off days with her. Because she is an atheist, she does not teach Regan about religion, but when Regan has questions about God, Chris tries to answer reassuringly.

Even though Chris knows Regan very well, it takes her some time to realize that Regan's bizarre changes are not neurological. As soon as she accepts the idea of possession, she consults Fr. Karras and begs him to evaluate Regan for an exorcism.

In the sequel Exorcist II: The Heretic, which takes place four years after the events in The Exorcist, Regan is 16 years old, living in New York City and undergoing psychiatric therapy, claiming to remember nothing about her plight in Washington, D.C. while her psychiatrist believes her memories are only buried or repressed. As the story progresses, Regan is revealed to have psychic healing powers (the reason why the demon attacked her previously).

Casting

Linda Blair.

Actress/comedian April Winchell states that she was seriously considered for the part of Regan MacNeil until she developed pyelonephritis, which caused her to be hospitalized and ultimately taken out of consideration.[1] Denise Nickerson, famous as Violet Beauregarde in 1971's Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, was considered to play Regan, but the material troubled her parents too much, and they pulled her out of consideration.

Pamelyn Ferdin was a candidate for the part, but the producers may have felt she was too well-known.[2]

Anissa Jones, known for her role as Buffy in Family Affair, auditioned for the role of Regan MacNeil, but she too was rejected, for much the same reason as Ferdin. Having played Buffy Davis in the recently cancelled sitcom Family Affair, the producers were concerned the role would confuse and scare fans of both the show and Jones.

When she was working as a model, Kim Basinger auditioned for the role of Regan MacNell.

Laura Dern and Eve Plumb auditioned for the part of Regan MacNeil.

Sharon Stone was considered for Regan MacNeil.

Melanie Griffith revealed that she auditioned for Regan McNeil.

Producers also sought to have Jamie Lee Curtis audition for the role of Regan MacNeil but her mother Janet Leigh refused.

Kay Lenz turned down the role of Regan McNeil because she didn't like the script. William Friedkin decided she was too old.

Thirty other actresses auditioned for the part of Regan MacNeil.

According to Panorama magazine, William Friedkin didn't give Brooke Shields the part of Regan McNeil because "she was too young for the part". She was eight years old at the time.

According to Variety magazine, it was revealed that Carrie Fisher and her mother Debbie Reynolds were contenders for the roles of Regan and Chris MacNeil.

Dana Plato claimed that she had been offered the role of Regan but her mother Kay had turned it down. In the book Former Child Stars: The Story of America's Least Wanted William Peter Blatty later said that he had "no such recollection" of this actually happening, and that Plato herself may have been the source for this rumor. Anyway, Plato was cast for a role in Exorcist II: The Heretic.

  • In the Supernatural season 2 episode the Usual Suspects, Regan's actress Linda Blair guest stars as a police detective helping them against an apparent vengeful spirit. At the end of the episode, a reference is made to Linda's role as Regan in the form of Dean commenting that Linda's character looked familiar and Dean suddenly wanting pea soup.

References

  1. ^ 5 things you don't know about April Winchell, Mr. KABC Radio Show audio archive, accessed February 8, 2007
  2. ^ "Among Ferdin's disappointments was losing the role of Regan MacNeil in the 1973 movie, The Exorcist to Linda Blair." Bob Leszczak, The Odd Couple on Stage and Screen (McFarland, 2014).
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