THE CONJURING Goes Back On Franchise Ending With New Prequel Film

Looks like Warner Bros. isn’t quite finished with the Warrens just yet. Despite The Conjuring: Last Rites being billed as the final installment in the horror franchise, the studio has announced that they’re developing a prequel film about the early years of the ghost-hunting couple’s adventures, to be penned by the writers behind Last Rites. 

Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema have recruited short film director Rodrigue Huart to direct the as-yet-untitled film, with Richard Naing and Ian Goldberg — who also co-wrote The Nun II — working on the script. No plot details have been revealed, though presumably the film will recast Ed and Lorraine Warren with younger actors, unless Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson are willing to return for another round of ghost-hunting. 

The choice to go back on the promise that Last Rites would be the final film in the franchise presumably stems from its massive box office success, earning nearly $500 million globally — the best of the franchise so far. Collectively, the nine film franchise, including spin-offs like Annabelle and The Nun, has earned $2.7 billion globally, making it the most successful horror franchise of all time, so it’s no surprise that Warner Bros. would want to continue its success, regardless of whether it actually makes narrative sense. 

But this new prequel isn’t the only new installment planned for the franchise. A television series is also in the works, with Nancy Won serving as showrunner and Cameron Squires and Peter Cameron serving as writers after their stint with Disney on WandaVision