After a cool critical reception at the Geffen Playhouse in 2012, Broadway producer Ben Sprecher (Rebecca) has returned to his stage adaptation of the thriller The Exorcist.

Playwright John Pielmeier has reworked his original treatment that promises to deliver visceral scares, according to Sprecher and his co-producer Stuart Snyder.

Directed by Sean Mathias, performances begin in the U.K. October 21 at Birmingham Repertory Theatre. Performances continue through November 5.

The cast features Peter Bowles as Father Merrin, Todd Boyce as Doctor Strong, Louise Connolly as Regan, Adam Garcia as Father Damian Karras, Mitchell Mullen as Doctor Klein, Jenny Seagrove as Chris, Joseph Wilkins as Father Joe, and Tristram Wymark as Burke.

Should the Birmingham premiere be well-received, the plan is to take The Exorcist to the West End sometime next year, with Broadway and global productions to follow. Bill Kenwright, the producer who ushered the vampire thriller Let the Right One In to the West End, is attached to the project.

“We have embraced the idea that crazy stuff is going to happen on stage. Scary stuff is going to happen, hopefully not just on the stage, but hopefully when it comes to Broadway it will be environmental,” Sprecher previously told Playbill.com. “The reality of the show’s story line embraces the idea that ‘My God, this is happening on stage for real right in front of my eyes.’ We are definitely going for it.”

The Exorcist has production design by Anna Fleischle, lighting design by Tim Mitchell, music and sound design by Adam Cork, video and projection design by Duncan McLean, illusion direction by Ben Hart, fight direction by Bret Yount, and assistant direction by Priya Dosanjh.

Visit birmingham-rep.co.uk.