The Conjuring franchise, known for its chilling tales of the paranormal, has shocked fans by announcing a new movie after initially billing "The Conjuring: Last Rites" as the final chapter. This unexpected development has sparked curiosity and debate among enthusiasts, who are now left wondering if the Warren couple will return for more supernatural adventures. The prequel, set to explore the couple's early years as demonologists, is in the works at Warner Bros. and New Line, with screenwriters Richard Naing and Ian Goldberg, and director Rodrigue Huart, already on board. The announcement comes as a surprise, given that director Michael Chaves previously stated that "Last Rites" was the "final chapter" and "absolutely the end" of the series. However, this isn't the first time a horror franchise has made a U-turn, as evidenced by the Saw, Lake Placid, and The Omen series. The Conjuring's success, with "Last Rites" earning $487 million globally, has clearly indicated a strong demand for more paranormal investigations by Ed and Lorraine Warren. While the details of the prequel are still limited, fans can expect to see two new actors stepping into the roles of Ed and Lorraine. This news comes as Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson, who have portrayed the Warren couple in the past 12 years, bid farewell to the franchise. Farmiga and Wilson have expressed their gratitude for the experience, with Farmiga praising her co-star in an emotional Instagram post. The Conjuring franchise, which has expanded into a fully-fledged film universe, currently consists of nine movies, including The Conjuring (2013), Annabelle (2014), The Conjuring 2 (2016), Annabelle: Creation (2017), The Nun (2018), Annabelle Comes Home (2019), The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021), The Nun II (2023), and The Conjuring: Last Rites (2025). The announcement of the prequel has left fans divided, with some excited to see the couple's early years and others skeptical about the franchise's longevity. The question remains: will the Warren couple return for more supernatural cases, or will this be the end of their paranormal investigations? Only time will tell, and fans are eagerly awaiting further updates on this controversial and intriguing development.
