Live on stage: "The Exorcist"?

Watch out for the pea soup: the blockbuster novel and movie (based on the true story of a Catholic exorcism) is being adapted for the stage and will have its world premiere next year in Los Angeles.

From the New York Times:

The playwright John Pielmeier (“Agnes of God”) is writing the stage version of “The Exorcist,” based on William Peter Blatty’s 1971 novel. John Doyle, who brought a stripped-down, bloody sensibility to the 2005 Broadway revival of “Sweeney Todd,” will direct the show, which is set to begin performances on July 3, 2012.

The 1973 film adaptation, directed by William Friedkin, starred Linda Blair in a career-defining role as the possessed girl, Ellen Burstyn as her mother and Max von Sydow as the priest on a mission. The movie, one of the highest-grossing horror films of all time, was nominated for 10 Academy Awards, including best picture and best director (it won for best sound and adapted screenplay).

Ken Novice, the Geffen’s managing director, said in a phone interview that the play will not be the film regurgitated, but rather a new look at the book.

“The novel has a different take than the movie,” he said. “There’s a focus on the psychological aspects and questions of faith. The idea is to focus on those two elements as opposed to big special effects, or trying to create horror on stage in the way you would do for a movie.”

Good luck making that work, folks.