(Image: Entertainment Weekly)
"The Conjuring: Last Rites," the fourth installment in the core saga of The Conjuring Universe, is set to bring the story of Ed and Lorraine Warren to a close. Today, Warner Bros. Pictures gave fans a first look at the film, releasing the initial batch of photos through Entertainment Weekly.
"Last Rites" is once again directed by Michael Chaves, who previously helmed three other films in the universe: "The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It," "The Nun II," and "The Curse of La Llorona." David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick, who penned the second and third "Conjuring" films, returns to write the screenplay.
The Entertainment Weekly feature also unveiled the official synopsis for "Last Rites." The film is set in 1986, five years after the events of the third movie, and adapts the Smurl haunting case, which originally took place in 1973. In the film, the Warrens have retired from paranormal investigation, largely due to Ed Warren's heart attack in the previous installment, which has left him physically unable to handle the strain.
In addition to Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson returning as the Warrens, the new cast includes Mia Tomlinson as their daughter, Judy Warren, and Ben Hardy as Judy's boyfriend.
(Image: Entertainment Weekly)
Although "Last Rites" is being billed as the final chapter, a spinoff series for The Conjuring Universe, announced two years ago, is still in development. Furthermore, New Line Cinema president Richard Brenner told The Hollywood Reporter (THR) last month that "Last Rites" only marks the conclusion of the universe's "Phase One," suggesting a potential Marvel-style expansion with more phases to come.
Regarding the possibility of future expansion, franchise producer James Wan stated that he still wants to convince Warner Bros. to greenlight "The Crooked Man," a spinoff from "The Conjuring 2" that was announced years ago but never materialized, noting that he already has a preliminary concept for it. As for a potential "Phase Two," Wan is uncertain but guarantees that "Last Rites" serves as the ideal conclusion for now.
via： Entertainment Weekly