The Conjuring: Last Rites was framed as the farewell to the cinematic Ed and Lorraine Warren—not the end of every project in the franchise. James Wan did not confirm a “phase two” or a Judy Warren sequel. Since his 2025 comments, Variety has reported a separate prequel, The Conjuring: First Communion, scheduled for September 10, 2027, about the Warrens’ early years.
Did James Wan confirm a Conjuring “phase two”?
No. At a press event reported by Bloody Disgusting on August 25, 2025, Wan said he was focused on releasing Last Rites and presenting it as the last one. He acknowledged talk of a possible “phase two,” but said he did not know what would follow.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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The Conjuring (Blu-Ray) | $8.02 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Conjuring 7-Film Collection, The (Blu-ray) | $17.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Conjuring, The: Last Rites (Blu-ray) | $14.77 | Buy on Amazon |
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Conjuring 2 (Blu-ray) | $7.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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The Conjuring Universe 9-Film Collection (Blu-ray) | $36.99 | Buy on Amazon |
Wan described the idea of a Judy-centered continuation as structurally possible and potentially “organic,” while emphasizing that he was not announcing it. His “Never say never” was an expression of openness, not confirmation of a project.
He also explained why he wanted to stop the main series on a high note: “We don’t want to be doing this 20 movies down the line, where we’ve driven the franchise into the ground.” The goal, he said, was to leave while audiences still loved the world, films, and characters.
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What is the next reported Conjuring movie?
The Conjuring: First Communion
Variety reported in 2026 that The Conjuring: First Communion is scheduled to open September 10, 2027. The prequel is about the early years of Ed and Lorraine Warren, with Garrett Wareing and Amanda Fix cast as the young Warrens. Variety also reported that Rodrigue Huart will direct, Richard Naing and Ian Goldberg will write, and Peter Safran will return as producer. The release date is scheduled and could change; these details are Variety’s reporting, not a studio announcement cited here.
This is a prequel, not a sequel to Last Rites and not the Judy-led continuation Wan discussed as a possibility. It expands the universe by going back to the Warrens’ earlier story.
Rank #2
- The Conjuring Universe: 7 Film Collection
- Product type: PHYSICAL MOVIE
- Brand: WB
Does Last Rites still count as the end?
It can be the end of the adult Warrens’ cinematic storyline while the broader universe continues. Warner Bros.’ official film page calls Last Rites the ninth entry in the Conjuring Universe and describes it as one last case for Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson’s Ed and Lorraine. It also identifies Mia Tomlinson as Judy Warren and Ben Hardy as Tony Spera.
Wan told CinemaBlend on August 29, 2025 that the priority was to say farewell to the “cinematic Ed and Lorraine” in an emotional way. That distinction helps reconcile the farewell language with the later-reported prequel: the adult couple’s arc can conclude even if other stories in the universe are made.
Rank #3
- Runtime: 137 minutes
What about a Judy Warren movie or the HBO series?
A Judy-centered continuation
Wan did not announce a Judy Warren film. He said the setup and structure could support one and that such a continuation did not feel out of place, but his comments stopped short of confirming development, casting, or a release plan.
The HBO series
Variety reported in 2025 that an HBO series was in development to continue the feature-film story, with Nancy Won hired as writer, executive producer, and showrunner. Its status as of October 8, 2026 is not established by the available reporting cited here, so it should not be described as confirmed, canceled, or currently in production.
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- Artist: FARMIGA,VERA
- Genre: Horror
- Product Type: Blu-Ray Disc
- Rating: R
- Release Date: 13-SEP-2016
Why Wan chose the Smurl case for the farewell
Last Rites draws on the Smurl case. Wan told CNA Lifestyle in 2025 that the early-1990s TV movie The Haunted, starring Sally Kirkland, introduced him to Ed and Lorraine Warren, making a return to the Smurl case feel “full circle.” The film’s use of a real case does not establish the truth of supernatural claims associated with it.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the franchise’s current direction means
Variety reported that the nine-film franchise had earned $2.7 billion across its films and that Last Rites had grossed $487 million worldwide. Those are Variety’s reported figures, not an audited studio total. They help explain why further franchise stories are plausible, but they do not establish which projects beyond First Communion will move forward.
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- Adult Warrens: Last Rites was presented as their cinematic farewell.
- Broader universe: a prequel, First Communion, is scheduled for September 10, 2027, according to Variety.
- Judy continuation: Wan said “never say never,” but did not confirm a film.
- HBO series: reported as in development in 2025; its status by October 8, 2026 is unresolved.
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