 The original cast and crew of _Exorcist, The (1973)_ (qv) were  originally very much opposed to a sequel. William Friedkin (qv)  and William Peter Blatty (qv) actually met to discuss ideas at one  point, but when they failed to develop a suitable premise, they  abandoned the project. Both Linda Blair (qv) and  Ellen Burstyn (qv) turned down repeated offers by the studio,  though Blair eventually agreed to return when presented with what  she considered a good script. However, according to Blair, due to  various rewrites the script ended up a total mess. By that point,  however, she was contractually bound to a sequel, and unable to drop  out of the project.