It seems there are, indeed, more cases in store for the Warrens. The Conjuring universe is not only the most successful horror franchise in history, it's also one of the only cinematic universes audiences have connected to. Billed as the last chapter in the franchise, The Conjuring: Last Rites was meant to be a swan song for Ed and Lorraine Warren. However, plans changed when the movie became a massive financial success. Despite lukewarm reviews (59% RT score), it grossed $489 million internationally––more than any previous Conjuring project.
With that, it was difficult to imagine Warner Bros. being willing to say goodbye to the franchise. And goodbye, the studio did not say. Per Variety, a Conjuring prequel movie is now in the works from WB and New Line Cinema. The film is set to focus on Ed and Lorraine's early days as paranormal investigators. Given the prequel nature of the project, it seems unlikely that Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson will return to play the Warrens.
Rodrigue Huart is in negotiations to helm the film, which is being written by Ian Goldberg and Richard Naing. The duo co-wrote The Nun II (with Akela Cooper) and Last Rites (alongside David Leslie-Johnson McGoldrick). Huart gained recognition directing short films like Real, Trigger and Transylvanie. Aside from the Conjuring prequel, he is set to write and direct Paramount's Suffer Little Children, a remake of 1976's Who Can Kill a Child?
Something unique about the Conjuring universe is how smoothly it's lent itself to continuations. The franchise established that demons of all sorts can be found anywhere. That little piece of lore provided Warner Bros. with a nearly ever-fresh storytelling well that, if handled correctly, will not dry out for the foreseeable future. Though past installments like The Curse of La Llorona and The Nun II seemed to indicate the franchise's popularity was waning, Last Rites proved otherwise.
Given the nearly infinite story possibilities afforded by the franchise's premise, as well as present audience interest, the smartest decision is to move forward with the series. Due to how definitive of a conclusion Last Rites presented for its main characters, turning to a prequel is the best approach to continue taking advantage of the storytelling versatility provided by the horror universe.
The Conjuring universe isn't only continuing on film––it's also branching out to television. A Conjuring TV series for HBO Max was announced to be in development in 2023. Though the project saw no movement for a few years, Deadline revealed in 2025 that Nancy Won (Tiny Beautiful Things, Jessica Jones) had been hired as showrunner and executive producer. Though there are no plot details available for the project yet, Deadline described it as a continuation of "the story established in the feature films."
Given these projects, it's clear the Conjuring universe is here to stay. Stay tuned to FearHQ for any new developments on the projects.
The Conjuring: Last Rites is available on Digital.