The Conjuring: Last Rites And Beyond—7 Shocking New Details About The Universe’s Future On Film And Max

The Conjuring Universe, the most financially successful horror franchise in history, is currently undergoing its most significant expansion and conclusion to date. As of December 11, 2025, the central film narrative is wrapping up, but the world of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren is set to dramatically expand across both the big and small screens, guaranteeing the continuation of its terrifying legacy for years to come.

The highly anticipated final chapter, The Conjuring: Last Rites, has already set records, and its success is driving an aggressive slate of new projects. From a major HBO Max television series to a surprise new prequel film and the revelation of the true, disturbing case behind the final movie, fans have a wealth of fresh, unique content to look forward to, cementing the franchise’s topical authority in the horror genre.

The Architects of Fear: Ed, Lorraine, and James Wan’s Biographies

The cultural phenomenon of The Conjuring is built on three pillars: the real-life figures who lived the stories, the actors who embodied them, and the visionary who brought the terror to the screen.

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The Real-Life Paranormal Investigators: Ed and Lorraine Warren

• Ed Warren (1926–2006): A self-taught demonologist and author, Ed was one of only two non-priests sanctioned by the Catholic Church to perform exorcisms. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.
• Lorraine Warren (1927–2019): A professional clairvoyant and light trance medium who claimed to be able to communicate with the supernatural entities they investigated.
• Career: The Warrens claimed to have investigated well over 10,000 cases of alleged paranormal activity, starting in the 1950s.
• Most Famous Cases (Entities): The Annabelle Doll (1970), The Amityville Horror (1975), The Perron Family Haunting (The Conjuring), The Snedeker Haunting (A Haunting in Connecticut), and the Smurl Haunting (The Conjuring: Last Rites).

The Filmmaking Visionary: James Wan

• Born: February 26, 1977, in Sarawak, Malaysia.
• Occupation: Australian filmmaker, director, producer, and screenwriter.
• Key Franchises: Wan is the co-creator of three of the most successful horror franchises in modern history: Saw, Insidious, and The Conjuring Universe.
• Role in Conjuring: Wan directed the first two main films (The Conjuring and The Conjuring 2) and serves as a key producer and driving creative force behind all spin-offs, ensuring the interconnected continuity of the universe.

The Iconic On-Screen Duo: Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga

Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga have anchored the franchise as Ed and Lorraine Warren, earning critical praise for their chemistry and commitment to the roles.

• Patrick Wilson: Known for his work in Broadway musicals and films like Watchmen and Insidious. He has received nominations for a Golden Globe and an Emmy.
• Vera Farmiga: An Academy Award-nominated actress for her role in Up in the Air. Her portrayal of Lorraine Warren’s empathetic nature and clairvoyant abilities is a core element of the series’ success.
• Their Bond: The duo has starred in all four main Conjuring films, with Last Rites being marketed as their final bow in the main saga, marking the end of an era for the beloved cinematic couple.

The Conjuring: Last Rites (2025) — The Final Film and Its True Story

The Conjuring: Last Rites, released on September 5, 2025, is billed as the concluding chapter of the main film series, bringing the Warrens’ cinematic journey to a powerful, terrifying close.

The True Story: The Smurl Haunting

The film is based on the alleged 1986 haunting of the Smurl family in West Pittston, Pennsylvania.

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• The Family: Janet and Jack Smurl, along with their children and parents, claimed a demonic presence began terrorizing their home at 330 Chase Street.
• The Claims: The family reported a chilling array of phenomena, including strange noises, foul odors, objects moving, and even alleged physical and sexual assaults by the entity.
• The Warrens’ Involvement: Ed and Lorraine Warren took on the Smurl case, concluding that the house was afflicted by a demonic entity. Their investigation and subsequent attempts at exorcism became one of their most well-documented and controversial cases.
• Director and Cast: Michael Chaves, who previously directed The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It and The Nun II, returned to direct Last Rites. Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga reprise their roles as the Warrens.

The Expanding Universe: New Prequel and HBO Max Series

While Last Rites signifies the end of the core trilogy, the *Conjuring Universe* is far from over. Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema have confirmed multiple new projects that will delve deeper into the franchise’s timeline and lore, expanding its topical authority.

1. The Surprise New Prequel Film

Following the significant box office success of The Conjuring: Last Rites, the studio immediately greenlit a new, currently untitled prequel film.

• Focus: This new film is expected to explore a completely new corner of the universe, likely focusing on an earlier, untold case or the origin of a new demonic entity.
• Director: Short film director Rodrigue Huart is reportedly in talks to direct the new prequel, signaling the franchise's desire to inject fresh creative talent.
• Timeline: This prequel will allow the franchise to continue its narrative without relying on the main Warrens storyline, offering new lore and a fresh chronological starting point for fans.

2. The Highly Anticipated HBO Max Television Series

Perhaps the most exciting development is the confirmation that a live-action The Conjuring television series is officially moving forward on Max (formerly HBO Max).

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• Showrunner: Nancy Won has joined the project as the writer, executive producer, and showrunner, a critical step in moving the long-awaited series into production.
• Plot Continuation: The series is set to "continue the story established in the feature films," suggesting it will either pick up shortly after the events of Last Rites or explore cases that occur concurrently with the films.
• Format Potential: A television format offers a unique opportunity to explore the Warrens' extensive case files in greater detail, moving beyond the two-hour constraints of a feature film. This could introduce dozens of new entities and locations, significantly expanding the overall *Conjuring Universe* timeline and depth.

The Conjuring Universe Timeline: Chronological Order of Fear

To maintain topical authority, it is essential to understand the chronological order of the nine films that make up the universe, leading up to the new series and prequel. This timeline is often confusing for new viewers due to the heavy use of prequels and spin-offs:

1. The Nun (2018): Set in 1952. Introduces the demon Valak.
2. Annabelle: Creation (2017): Set in 1955. The origin story of the Annabelle doll.
3. The Nun II (2023): Set in 1956. Valak returns to terrorize Sister Irene.
4. Annabelle (2014): Set in 1967. The doll's story continues with the Form family.
5. The Conjuring (2013): Set in 1971. The Warrens investigate the Perron family haunting.
6. Annabelle Comes Home (2019): Set in 1972. The Annabelle doll is brought to the Warrens' artifact room.
7. The Conjuring 2 (2016): Set in 1977. The Warrens travel to London to investigate the Enfield Poltergeist.
8. The Curse of La Llorona (2019): Set in 1973. (A standalone film with a subtle connection to the universe).
9. The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021): Set in 1981. The Warrens investigate a murder case where the suspect claims demonic possession.
10. The Conjuring: Last Rites (2025): Set in 1986. The Warrens take on the infamous Smurl Haunting.

The future of The Conjuring Universe is bright, or perhaps terrifyingly dark, with the final film paving the way for a deeper exploration of its demonic mythology through a television series and new prequels. Fans can rest assured that the legacy of Ed and Lorraine Warren, and the terror they documented, will continue to be a dominant force in horror entertainment well past 2025.