The Conjuring Universe Expands: Warner Bros. Developing Prequel After Last Rites Success

The haunting isn’t over yet! After The Conjuring: Last Rites was promoted as the final chapter in Ed and Lorraine Warren’s chilling saga, Warner Bros. is set to breathe new life into the supernatural universe with an exciting lineup of projects starting with a prequel film.

According to Variety, writers Richard Naing and Ian Goldberg (The Nun II, Last Rites) are returning to pen the new movie, while Rodrigue Huart is in talks to direct. The film will mark a fresh beginning for The Conjuring franchise, which continues to be one of the most successful horror series in modern cinema.

A New Chapter: The Prequel

The upcoming prequel will explore the early years of Ed and Lorraine Warren, the famed paranormal investigators who became horror icons through their real-life case files. With this new direction, the story will likely introduce younger versions of the Warrens, meaning new actors will step into the roles previously played by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga, whose emotional performances defined the franchise’s core.

The Conjuring Universe Continues to Grow

Following the massive success of The Conjuring: Last Rites, which earned nearly $500 million globally, Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema have doubled down on expanding the franchise. Despite being billed as the final film, Last Rites appears to have marked only the end of “Phase One” of the Conjuring universe.

The studios have now confirmed multiple new projects:

• The Prequel Film: Delving into Ed and Lorraine’s origins, promising fresh scares and deeper insight into their early investigations.

• An HBO Series: Currently in development, the untitled show will continue the story threads established in the films. Nancy Won has been announced as the writer and showrunner, signaling a more serialized exploration of the paranormal world.

• Potential Spin-Offs: The ending of Last Rites hinted at a new generation taking the reins. The focus may shift to Judy Warren (Mia Tomlinson) and her husband, Tony Spera (Ben Hardy), who inherit the Warrens’ infamous artifact room, setting the stage for chilling new encounters.

The End of One Era, the Start of Another

While Last Rites delivered a heartfelt farewell to Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga’s portrayals of the Warrens, it’s clear the universe they built is far from finished. Studio insiders suggest that the next phase will expand the mythology, introduce new characters, and explore untold chapters from the Warrens’ vast archive of supernatural cases.

With a powerful creative team, strong fan demand, and the promise of both films and television spin-offs, The Conjuring franchise is set to evolve into an even larger horror universe.

The haunting may have ended for the Warrens, but for fans of the supernatural, it’s only just beginning.