‘Conjuring’ prequel in development after ‘Last Rites’ breaks horror franchise box office record

Warner Bros. develops new ‘Conjuring’ prequel after ‘Last Rites’, expanding the billion-dollar horror universe.

The Conjuring universe is set to expand once again. Following the massive box office success of The Conjuring: Last Rites, Warner Bros. and New Line have begun developing a prequel film that will explore the early days of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren.

According to Variety, short film director Rodrigue Huart is in talks to helm the project. Writers Richard Naing and Ian Goldberg — who co-wrote The Nun II (2023) and The Conjuring: Last Rites (2025) — are returning to pen the screenplay. While no deals have been finalized, the studio’s early development plans suggest that the next chapter will take the story back to where it all began.

Last Rites, which was billed as the franchise’s conclusion, defied expectations by earning $487 million worldwide — the highest-grossing installment in the series. The strong performance has prompted Warner Bros. to extend the franchise rather than end it. It remains unclear whether Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson will reprise their iconic roles as the Warrens, as the prequel’s storyline will likely center on their younger years, potentially with new actors stepping into the lead roles.

The Conjuring universe also continues to grow beyond film. HBO is currently developing a television series that will expand on the stories from the movies. Writer and producer Nancy Won has been tapped as the showrunner for the project, though plot details remain under wraps.

Since its debut in 2013, the Conjuring franchise — including spin-offs like Annabelle and The Nun — has grossed a combined $2.7 billion globally, making it the most successful horror series in history. The prequel’s development signals that audiences haven’t seen the last of the Warrens’ haunted investigations.