'The Exorcist' helmer claimed to get The Vatican's invite

William Friedkin, director of horror classic 'The Exorcist,' has claimed the Vatican invited him to film a real exorcism earlier this month.

During a recent interview, the 80-year-old told the audience how he was invited to Rome to film an exorcism - the first time an exorcism performed at the Vatican has ever been photographed, reports the Independent.

"I was invited by the Vatican exorcist to shoot and video an actual exorcism which... few people have ever seen and which nobody has ever photographed," he said.

Friedkin noted how similar the ritual was to that depicted in his film.

"I was pretty astonished by that. I don't think I will ever be the same having seen this astonishing thing," he said.

"I am not talking about some cult, I am talking about an exorcism by the Catholic Church in Rome," the director added.