‘Conjuring’ Prequel Reportedly in the Works at New Line
The Conjuring films are a dominant force. In fact, the greater universe has emerged as the highest-grossing horror franchise of all time. With four core series installments and five spinoffs grossing well over $2 billion at the global box office, the IP has undoubtedly established itself as a cultural phenomenon and a major cash cow for New Line and Warner Bros. Despite a decline in critical reception for the past two core series installments, the franchise remains commercially viable. The most recent entry, The Conjuring: Last Rites, enjoyed the highest opening weekend for a Conjuring film and secured the third-highest opening ever for a horror film, after It (2017) and It: Chapter Two (2019).
With numbers like that, it should come as no surprise that another Conjuring film is reportedly in development.
Or maybe it should come as a surprise considering that Last Rites director Michael Chaves vehemently insisted that the core Conjuring franchise was over following the release of Last Rites, telling ComicBook, “This is the final chapter … that’s why we called it Last Rites.“
Despite all of that, Variety is now reporting that New Line is developing a Conjuring prequel with Rodrigue Huart in line to direct. Huart is best known for his short films Transylvanie, Réel, and Trigger, as well as for directing music videos for recording artists Yuzmv and GIMS.
The outlet additionally reports that franchise mainstays Richard Naing and Ian Goldberg (who wrote The Nun II and The Conjuring: Last Rites) are in talks to pen the script for the prequel.
At this point, there is no word on whether Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga will reprise their roles as Ed and Lorraine Warren. However, since this is a prequel, the roles may be recast with younger actors.
Negotiations are reportedly still underway, so nothing is final just yet. Naturally, there’s no word at this juncture on a targeted release date for the yet unnamed project. But rest assured that we’ll be back with more details as they become available.
The Conjuring films follow paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren as they set out to help people plagued by inexplicable supernatural phenomena. Each film in the core series is loosely based on a case that the character’s real-life counterparts investigated.
James Wan directed the first two installments of the series before passing the torch on the third and fourth films. Despite stepping aside as director, he still took a producer credit on the third and fourth installments.
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