The Conjuring: Last Rites marks the conclusion of the long-running horror franchise, and according to producer James Wan, the priority was ensuring a meaningful farewell to its central characters, Ed and Lorraine Warren, played by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga.
Speaking during a virtual press day for the film, Wan explained that while scares and the series’ “based on a true story” roots remained important, the creative team placed the most emphasis on closing the Warrens’ cinematic journey.
“We felt the most important thing was to be able to say farewell to the cinematic Ed and Lorraine in a way that felt emotional, and that justified the franchise and what fans have come to love about this particular series,” Wan said.
He added that while audiences expect horror, “they really stick around for Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson… their version of Ed and Lorraine.”
Director Michael Chaves echoed this during the same press event, crediting screenwriter David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick for shaping a conclusion that remained largely unchanged throughout development.
“David Leslie Johnson wrote really a great script, and it really had this great emotional through line with the Warren family and a really great conclusion,” Chaves said. “The end of it, I don’t think we touched a word of it.”
Wan, who directed the original The Conjuring in 2013 and has overseen the wider franchise, emphasised that Last Rites had to balance fear with emotional weight.
The film aims to deliver both, while also drawing the curtain on more than a decade of stories inspired by the Warrens’ paranormal investigations.
The Conjuring: Last Rites is set to open in cinemas on September 4 2025, launching this year’s Halloween season with the final chapter of the main series.
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