‘The Conjuring: Last Rites’ Isn’t the End After All as Prequel Is Reportedly in Development
The Conjuring: Last Rites hit theaters on September 5, 2025, and quickly proved there is still plenty of life left in the long-running horror series.
The movie was marketed as the final entry in the Conjuring saga, but that may not be true. Sources say Warner Bros.’
New Line Cinema is already working on new stories, including a possible prequel. Matthew Belloni of Puck News explained it simply: “Given the box office numbers, of course they are.”
Directed by Michael Chaves, Last Rites follows Ed and Lorraine Warren, once again played by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga, as they take on another case inspired by real-life paranormal investigations.
The film had a strong debut at the box office, making $34.6 million on its opening day in North America, including $8.5 million in Thursday previews.
That momentum carried through the weekend, with the film reaching $84 million domestically. Worldwide, it has earned $194 million so far. This marks the biggest opening ever for a Conjuring film and the third-largest debut for a horror movie in history.
Reviews from critics were mixed. On Rotten Tomatoes, just over half gave the movie a positive score, while Metacritic reported an average response. Audience feedback was slightly better, with a CinemaScore grade of “B” and more than half of viewers saying they would recommend the film.
Behind the success, there are ongoing talks about the future of the franchise. James Wan, who helped create the Conjuring Universe, is asking Warner Bros. for a bigger share of profits for his production company, Atomic Monster.
Reports say he first asked for half of the revenue from upcoming films, then lowered that request to 25 percent for the next one, with the plan to move up to 50 percent after that. The studio has not agreed, and Wan has threatened to leave. Some insiders at Warner Bros. say Wan has been less involved in recent years, but others insist he still shapes the creative side, even showing up on set and contributing to big scare scenes.
New horrors abound for the Warrens in #TheConjuring: Last Rites – In theaters this Friday!
— Fandango (@Fandango) September 2, 2025
Check out this exclusive clip, and reserve your seats on Fandango. https://t.co/3x6UXl8iod pic.twitter.com/UXTSMutBld
Earlier this year, New Line’s president confirmed at CinemaCon that a new phase of Conjuring movies is in the works. Wan later hinted that future stories could focus on Judy Warren, the daughter of Ed and Lorraine, who was introduced in earlier films.
Wilson and Farmiga are open to returning, with Wilson saying, “We’re in our 50s, and Lorraine lived into her 90s while Ed was in his 70s, so we’re still around.” Mia Tomlinson, who plays Judy, also said she is ready to continue the role. Meanwhile, other young actors have expressed interest in playing younger versions of Ed and Lorraine in prequels, including one idea based on the Amityville haunting.
It seems clear that The Conjuring: Last Rites will not be the last we see of the Warrens. With big box office numbers, fan demand, and more real-life stories to adapt, the series is set to continue.
It makes sense for Warner Bros. to keep the franchise alive. The audience is still showing up, and there are many cases in the Warrens’ history that haven’t been explored on screen yet.
The only question is how much involvement James Wan will have moving forward, since his influence has always been a key part of what makes these films work. What do you think? Should the Conjuring Universe continue, or should Last Rites have been the ending? Share your thoughts in the comments.
