A 'Conjuring' prequel is in early development

The new script will take us back in time, to the couple’s early days as paranormal investigators. We may even see how Ed met Lorraine. No doubt, in a highly fictional manner that doesn’t reflect reality at all. It seems highly unlikely that Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga will be back, especially if this is a prequel. Last Rites opened up with a flashback to their early ghost hunting days, with new actors playing their younger selves. In the prologue, Orion Smith and Madison Lawlor play the younger Warrens, and they look eerily similar to the ones we know. Originally, producers intended to digitally de-age Wilson and Farmiga, until Vera Farmiga suggested it would be better to recast.

Will Smith and Lawlor return for more? As much as Last Rites underwhelmed creatively, the new actors stuck the landing when it came to their roles. Maybe they can get a promotion? As for Wilson and Farmiga, as we said, we have a feeling their Conjuring days are (mostly) behind them. However, we could see them in a brief framing device of some kind. They agreed to appear in a small role in Annabelle Comes Home. We could see them doing the same thing for the new Conjuring prequel. We’re also not sure how this affects the proposed Conjuring universe series on HBO Max. New Line has yet to set a release window for this one, but we’d be surprised if it came out before the second half of 2027.