 Christopher Walken (qv) was also considered to play Father Lamont,  but the studio management was opposed to his casting.  John Boorman (qv)s autobiography recalls an anecdote in which he  claims Linda Blair (qv) came up to him one day during the  beleaguered shoot and perkily announced, "without irony", "Did they  tell you? I was only ten minutes late this morning!"