One of 2025’s Biggest Horror Movies Is Officially Getting a Prequel, Meaning the Franchise Is Far From Over

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The Conjuring Universe has consistently performed well in theaters, earning over $2 billion worldwide with its main films and spin-offs. However, even dedicated fans were amazed by the success of The Conjuring: Last Rites. Marketed as the final appearance of Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga as Ed and Lorraine Warren, the film exceeded expectations and broke box office records upon its release. Given this strong performance, it wasn’t surprising to hear that Warner Bros. is now developing another installment in the series.

A new movie focusing on the origins of The Conjuring universe is reportedly being developed, according to Variety. Rodrigue Huart is a potential director for the project, and writers Richard Naing and Ian Goldberg, who have worked on previous films in the series, are being considered to pen the script. Currently, no release date has been announced, and no actors have been cast. While details are still scarce, the film will explore the early days of Ed and Lorraine Warren’s career as paranormal investigators, meaning new actors will likely portray them instead of Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga.

Warner Bros. Has Big Plans for The Conjuring Universe Despite Last Rites Finale

Michael Chaves, the director of The Conjuring: Last Rites, initially stated the film would conclude the series. However, Warner Bros. had plans to continue the Conjuring franchise. Years ago, even before Last Rites became a box office hit, a Conjuring TV show was already in the works for HBO Max. It’s likely that the film was once considered a final chapter for the big screen, before shifting focus to television. But due to Last Rites‘ massive success, putting the film series on hold became difficult.

Choosing to make prequel films is an interesting move. Ed and Lorraine Warren investigated many cases throughout their lives, which gives filmmakers plenty of material for future movies. There’s enough content to create a whole series of prequels, showing the events leading up to the first Conjuring film. However, finding new actors to play Ed and Lorraine is risky. Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga were so well-known in the original films that it will be difficult to replace them. The new actors need to both respect the previous performances and bring something new to the roles, and it’s crucial that audiences accept them. If viewers don’t connect with the new Ed and Lorraine, the prequel series might not last long.

The main aim of the new Conjuring prequel seems to be revitalizing the series creatively. Recent films have received mixed reactions – for example, Last Rites currently has a 59% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. While prequels are often challenging to make well, this one offers a chance to explore a new side of the story. Seeing Ed and Lorraine Warren earlier in their careers, before they were established investigators, could be really compelling. A successful prequel could also enrich the existing films by giving us a deeper understanding of the Warrens and making them more complex characters.

Following the huge success of The Last Rites, another Conjuring film felt inevitable. While a spin-off or a story focusing on Judy Warren might have been a smart move, Warner Bros. has chosen to continue focusing on Ed and Lorraine Warren. This allows them to stay true to the real-life cases investigated by the family, providing a source of new story ideas. Because horror movies don’t usually cost a lot to produce, it’s a relatively low-risk venture; even if this new prequel doesn’t perform as well as The Last Rites, the studio is likely to still make a profit and can then decide on future plans.

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2025-10-30 19:42