So, I've talked about this a few times and I've even talked about the possibility of it.
Years ago William Peter Blatty, the author and screenwritter of The Exorcist wrote a loose sequel called Legion. It was a supernatural mystery novel with characters from the original book that definitely dances into the horror genre. Blatty also wrote the screenplay for the film adaptation and even directed the movie. Legion, however, was not going to be a title that people associated with the original film so the studio forced him to change the name from Legion to The Exorcist III: Legion and finally to just The Exorcist III. Near the end of production the studio demanded that the ending be changed because why would a movie called The Exorcist III not have an exorcist or an exorcism?
Well, Battly wasn't happy about it and his version, which was made, ended up lost in the cutting room floor. Still, Blatty claimed that he was proud of how he handled the changes and that it's still a superb film. Still, the harm was done and the footage of a very different film from what we have now might be forever lost. A director's cut is now impossible. This is especially sad for me since I thought the book was just brilliant. It's not like The Exorcist, nor does it need to be; it's brilliant in on it's own and doesn't have to be a sequel to be excellent, it has it's own name and it deserved better.
Well, ladies and germs, it seems that not all hope is lost (Yes, that was a divine comedy pun). In October there will be a Blu-Ray release of The Exorcist III and according to the publisher it will contain the closest possible version to Blatty's version of the film. Not sure where the footage was or what not but the studio says that with all the footage they've been handed they'll be able to make a proximation of Blatty's film and next to the actual Director's Cut this is the best news I've heard all week.