That creepy theme music from “The Exorcist” is memorable, but it might also be a seldom-heard presence in Fox’s new reboot of the horror classic starring Geena Davis.
Filmgoers will recognize the minimalist piano music from “Tubular Bells,” the 1973 album from English musician Mike Oldfield. Director William Friedkin used a brief excerpt that became forever linked to the cult horror movie about the demonic possession of a 12-year-old girl.
But it turns out that Fox doesn’t have an unlimited budget for musical homage.
“I don’t think you’ll be hearing it too many times in the future, because it costs a fair chunk of change every time it shows up,” executive producer Jeremy Slater told reporters Monday at the Television Critics Association summer press tour in Beverly Hills.
Slater added, however, that the theme will still be sprinkled here and there during the series, because fans expect such touches.
Meanwhile, executive producer Rupert Wyatt told reporters that exorcists still serve in the Catholic church, but are rarely talked about because they prefer to operate out of sight.
“It really comes down to protecting exorcists,” Wyatt said. “They don’t like to show their faces or blow their cover.”
Meanwhile, Davis said she isn’t spooked by demonic possession. “I don’t get impacted in those kinds of ways,” she said, but nevertheless believes in the concept of evil.
“I believe there is evil in the world,” the Oscar-winning actress said. “We’ve certainly seen instances of it historically and currently … Everybody’s capable of an extreme range of behaviors.”