Summary

• The Conjuring 4 has found its director after a long wait, confirming it as the last mainline film in the franchise.
• Michael Chaves will be directing the upcoming horror sequel, and sources have confirmed that it will be the final installment in The Conjuring Universe.
• Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson are expected to return for the movie, which is set to start filming in Summer 2024.

After nearly three years of waiting, The Conjuring 4 has finally found its director and confirmed itself to be the last mainline movie in the franchise. Created by James Wan, the hit horror franchise has largely revolved around the various cases of Ed and Lorraine Warren, real-life married paranormal investigators played by Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson in the mainline movies and spinoffs. It was confirmed in late 2022 that a fourth Conjuring movie was in development with original screenwriter David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick returning, though no director had been set.

The Hollywood Reporter has brought word that The Conjuring 4 has officially signed on Michael Chaves to direct the upcoming horror sequel. In addition to his signing, sources have confirmed that the movie, no longer subtitled Last Rites, will the final mainline installment in New Line's The Conjuring Universe, something that original director/producer James Wan has been hinting at throughout its development. Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson are currently expected to return for the movie with a filming start window slated for Summer 2024.

The Conjuring 4 Won't Be The End For The Hit Horror Franchise

With Wan having previously indicated it would be the final mainline installment, it may not come as a surprise to some that The Conjuring 4 has now been confirmed to be the end. Even aside from said comments, the sequel's original working title had been The Conjuring: Last Rites, further cementing the thought it would be the last mainline movie. The mixed reception to The Devil Made Me Do It also led to concerns that the franchise had begun to wear out its welcome with critics and audiences.

Though it may be the end for the mainline franchise, the fourth movie doesn't seem likely to be the end for The Conjuring Universe as a whole. It was reported in early 2023 that Wan and producer Peter Safran had begun development on a Conjuring TV show for Max, with the story expected to take place after the events of the movies. Given Farmiga and Wilson's busy schedules, it remains unclear if they'd be able to reprise their roles of Lorraine and Ed in a series regular capacity, though they could very well make brief appearances.

This could even lead to continuing the story set up by Annabelle Comes Home, in which Mckenna Grace's Judy Warren was shown to have similar medium abilities to that of Lorraine, making her the potential lead for the show. Even aside from the streaming title and The Conjuring 4, the recent financial and modest critical success of The Nun II has left the door open for the subfranchise to continue. The latter seems even more pertinent given its mid-credits scene served as a pseudo setup for the next movie, and further indicated a connection between Vera and Taissa Farmiga's characters.

Source: THR