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.mw-parser-output .noitalicfont-style:normal The Conjuring Universe
Official logo
Starring	See below
Distributed by	Warner Bros. Pictures
Budget	Total (5 films): $103.5 million
Box office	Total (5 films): $1.569 billion

The Conjuring Universe is a series of American horror films produced by New Line Cinema, The Safran Company, Atomic Monster Productions and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.

The films present a dramatization of the real-life cases of Ed and Lorraine Warren, paranormal investigators and authors associated with prominent yet controversial cases of haunting. The main series follows their attempts to assist people who find themselves possessed by demonic spirits, while the spin-off films focus on the origins of some of the entities the Warrens have encountered.

Overview

The franchise currently consists of two films in the main series, The Conjuring (2013) and The Conjuring 2 (2016), both directed by James Wan, co-produced by Peter Safran and Rob Cowan, and co-written by Chad Hayes and Carey W. Hayes. The installments revolve around two of the many famous paranormal cases of which the Warrens have been a part, with the first film depicting the case of the Perron family, who are experiencing disturbing events in their newly acquired house in Rhode Island, and the second entry focusing on the controversial case of the Enfield Poltergeist while briefly referring to the events that inspired The Amityville Horror.

The franchise also includes Annabelle (2014), a prequel directed by The Conjuring cinematographer John R. Leonetti and produced by Safran and Wan, which revealed the events of the doll of the same name before the Warrens came into contact with it at the start of the first film. An Annabelle prequel, Annabelle: Creation (2017), directed by David F. Sandberg shows the events of the origins of the demon-manipulated doll.

The Nun, a prequel based on a character introduced in The Conjuring 2, was released in 2018. Additionally another spin-off film from The Conjuring series of films titled The Crooked Man,^[1] is in development. A third Annabelle film is currently filming with franchise writer Gary Dauberman making his directorial debut, from a script he wrote. Producer James Wan has called the story a "Knightmare at the Museum", comparing the events to Night at the Museum.^[2] A third Conjuring film is in development with Michael Chaves directing.^[3][4]

The two Conjuring films were met with generally positive reviews by both critics and horror fans, earning praise for Wan's directing and main cast performances, particularly Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga's on-screen chemistry as Ed and Lorraine. Critics also acknowledged the effect the films have had on popular culture as well as in the production of modern horror films. The first entry in the Annabelle film series received more mixed to negative reviews, being considered by many, mainly fans of the first picture, as an inferior film to its forerunner. Annabelle: Creation was met with generally positive reviews. The Nun, on the other hand, received generally mixed to negative reviews. The two main films and its three spin-offs have proven themselves to be successful at the box office, having combined earnings of over $1.568 billion worldwide, against a combined budget of $103.5 million,^[5] making it the highest-grossing horror franchise in history and one of the most critically acclaimed.

Development

Development began over 20 years prior to the first film's debut, when Ed Warren played a tape of Lorraine Warren's original interview with Carolyn Perron for producer Tony DeRosa-Grund.^[6] DeRosa-Grund made a recording of Warren playing back the tape and of their subsequent discussion. At the end of the tape, Warren said to DeRosa-Grund, "If we can't make this into a film I don't know what we can." DeRosa-Grund then described his vision of the film for Ed.^[7]

DeRosa-Grund wrote the original treatment and titled the project The Conjuring.^[8] For nearly 14 years, he tried to get the film made without any success. He originally landed a deal to make the film at Gold Circle Films, the production company behind The Haunting in Connecticut, but a contract could not be finalized and the deal was dropped.^[9]

DeRosa-Grund allied with producer Peter Safran, and sibling writers Chad and Carey W. Hayes were brought on board to refine the script.^[8] Using DeRosa-Grund's treatment and the Ed Warren tape, the Hayes brothers changed the story's point of view from the Perron family to that of the Warrens. The brothers interviewed Lorraine many times over the phone to clarify details.^[10] By mid-2009, the property became the subject of a six-studio bidding war that landed the film at Summit Entertainment.^[11] However, DeRosa-Grund and Summit could not conclude the transaction and the film went into turnaround. DeRosa-Grund reconnected with New Line Cinema, who had lost in the original bidding war, and the studio ultimately picked up the film. On November 11, 2009, a deal was made between New Line and DeRosa-Grund's Evergreen Media Group.^[12]

Films

Timeline

An official timeline for The Conjuring Universe was released within a featurette for The Nun.^[13] The featurette established that all five films, including The Conjuring films, the Annabelle films and The Nun, take place between 1952 and 1977, with The Nun taking place first, followed by Annabelle: Creation, Annabelle, The Conjuring and lastly The Conjuring 2. Although the main story in Annabelle: Creation takes place in 1955, the film itself includes flashback sequences from 1943, which takes place before the events of The Nun.^[14][15]

The Conjuring series

The Conjuring (2013)

In January 2012, Bloody Disgusting confirmed Wan as the director of a film entitled The Warren Files, later retitled The Conjuring, centering on the real life exploits of Ed and Lorraine Warren, a married couple who investigated paranormal events.^[16] In his second collaboration with Wan, Patrick Wilson starred alongside Vera Farmiga in the main roles of Ed and Lorraine.^[17] Production commenced in Wilmington, North Carolina in February 2012, and scenes were shot in chronological order.^[17] The film focused on the Warrens' 1971 case in which they investigated a witch's curse at a farmhouse in Harrisville, Rhode Island. The Conjuring was released on July 19, 2013, to positive reviews and critical success, earning $318 million worldwide over a budget of $20 million, and becoming one of the most profitable horror films in history.

The Conjuring 2 (2016)

In June 2013, it was reported that New Line Cinema was already developing a sequel,^[18] with both Farmiga and Wilson signed on to reprise their roles.^[19] On October 21, it was announced that Wan would return to direct the sequel and would make his first contribution as a writer in the franchise.^[20] Principal photography began in September 2015 in Los Angeles, and concluded in December 2015 in London.^[21] The film focused on the Enfield Poltergeist case in London in 1977,^[22] while briefly referencing the events that inspired The Amityville Horror. It was released on June 10, 2016,^[23] to positive reviews from both critics and audiences; some agreed that the film was vastly superior to other horror sequels, while others debated whether the film had surpassed its predecessor in quality. Proving to be similarly successful to the first entry in the series, the film became another profitable addition to the franchise, having earned $320.3 million worldwide from a budget of $40 million, and becoming the second highest-grossing horror film of all time, following The Exorcist.

The Conjuring 3 (2020)

In 2016, Wan stated that though he would not be directing another film in the franchise due to scheduling conflicts, "there could be many more [Conjuring] movies because the Warrens have so many stories", acknowledging that "there are other filmmakers that I would love to sort of continue on the Conjuring world".^[24][25][26] Wan stated that the next film in the series would take place during 1980s^[27] and spoke of ideas for the franchise to explore lycanthropy, citing American Werewolf in London and The Hound of the Baskervilles as inspiration.^[28] In May 2017, Safran stated that the next film would not be a haunted house movie.^[29] By June of the same year, it was announced a third installment was in development, with David Leslie Johnson hired to write the screenplay.^[3] In August 2017, Wan explained that the third movie had been in development a long time, as all the creative minds involved wanted it to live up to the quality of the previous two films.^[30]

In October 2018, Michael Chaves was announced as the film's director, after previously directing a film being released by Atomic Monster Productions. Wan stated he was impressed while working with Chaves on The Curse of La Llorona, and that the filmmaker would make a great addition to the creative team. Wilson and Farmiga are set to reprise their roles as Ed and Lorraine Warren, with the plot reportedly revolving around a legal trial where the defendant claimed to have been possessed during the crimes of which he is accused.^[31][32] Production is slated to begin sometime during 2019, while the film is scheduled for a September 11, 2020, release.^[33][34]

Annabelle series

Annabelle (2014)

A spin-off film, focusing on the origins of the Annabelle doll that was introduced in The Conjuring, was announced shortly after the release of its forerunner, mainly due to the film's worldwide box office success, and positive reception towards the character. Production began in January 2014 in Los Angeles. The plot focused on John and Mia Form, a married couple expecting a child, whose vintage doll, Annabelle, gets possessed by a vengeful spirit after a cult group breaks into their home and is murdered. The film was directed by The Conjuring cinematographer John R. Leonetti and produced by Safran and Wan, with Gary Dauberman behind the script.^[35] The film was released worldwide on October 3, 2014, to major commercial success, becoming the 14th most profitable horror film in North America, despite receiving mixed to negative reviews from critics and fans alike.^[36] Many critics found Annabelle to be an inferior film compared to The Conjuring.^[37]

Annabelle: Creation (2017)

In October 2015, it was confirmed that an Annabelle sequel was in development; it was later revealed that the film would be a prequel rather than a sequel.^[38] Filming began in June 2016 in Los Angeles.^[39] The plot of the film centers on a dollmaker and his wife, whose daughter tragically died twelve years earlier, as they decide to open their home to a nun and several girls from a shuttered orphanage; the dollmaker's possessed creation Annabelle sets her sights on the children and turns their shelter into a storm of horror.^[40]Lights Out director David F. Sandberg replaced Leonetti as director, with Dauberman returning to write the script and Safran and Wan returning to produce.^[41] The film was released worldwide on August 11, 2017, to critical and commercial success. Most critics found Annabelle: Creation to be a vast improvement over its predecessor.^[42]

Untitled Annabelle film (2019)

In February of 2019, Warner Bros. announced June 28, 2019 as the release date for an as-yet untitled new film in The Conjuring Universe, moving it forward from the original release date of July 3.^[43] Later that month, it was announced that the film will be a third Annabelle film, with Gary Dauberman signed on to write and direct the film in his directorial debut, based on a story treatment written by Dauberman and James Wan.^[44] Wan and Peter Safran will co-produce the project.^[45]

During the 2018 SDCC, Wan and Safran revealed the film's events would take place after Annabelle and would focus on the doll after she was kept in the glass box in the Warrens' museum; Dauberman later confirmed this by stating that the film will take place shortly after the beginning of The Conjuring where the titular character is introduced, but also before many of the events of the franchise's first installment. Wilson and Farmiga were also announced to reprise their roles as Ed and Lorraine Warren.^[46][47][48] By September, Michael Burgess was hired as the film's cinematographer.^[49] Later that month, Mckenna Grace and Madison Iseman were cast in the film as Judy Warren, the Warrens' 10-year-old daughter, and one of Judy's teenage babysitters.^[50] By October, Katie Sarife had joined the cast.^[44] Production commenced in October 2018 in Los Angeles, and finished in December of the same year.^[51][44]

Other films

The Nun (2018)

In June 2016, it was reported that a spin-off film titled The Nun, featuring the "Demon Nun" character Valak from The Conjuring 2, was in development with The Conjuring 2 co-scribe David Leslie Johnson writing the script, and Wan and Safran set to produce the project.^[52] In February of the following year, it was announced that Corin Hardy had signed on to direct. Gary Dauberman was also reported to have written a new screenplay based on a story treatment from James Wan and Dauberman.^[53] In April 2017, it was revealed Demián Bichir had joined the cast in the lead role.^[54] That same month, Taissa Farmiga joined the cast of the film, in the titular role.^[55]Bonnie Aarons will reprise her role in the film.^[56] The plot of the film follows a nun, a priest and a novitiate as they investigate an unholy secret and confront a malevolent force in the form of a demonic nun. Filming began in May 2017 in Bucharest, Romania^[57] and the film was released on September 7, 2018.^[58]

On August 12, 2017, Wan discussed a possibility for a Nun sequel and what its storyline may be: "I do know where potentially, if The Nun works out, where The Nun 2 could lead to and how that ties back to Lorraine's story that we've set up with the first two Conjurings and make it all come full circle."^[59]

The Crooked Man (TBA)

In May 2017, Safran stated that the Crooked Man was being considered by the studio, for a feature film.^[60] By June of the same year, it was reported that a spin-off film titled The Crooked Man, featuring the character of the same name from The Conjuring 2, was in development with Mike Van Waes writing the script based on a story treatment by James Wan. Wan and Safran are set to produce the project. Wan later told Entertainment Weekly that The Crooked Man is in the early stages of development and that the intent with the movie is to develop a "dark fairytale" sub-genre of horror films.^[61]

By September 2018, Safran gave an update on the project stating that the script was in progress of being written and that the studio intends to wait until the story is fully developed before production will begin. He further explained that the intention is for each of the different films in the franchise to have its own style.^[62]

My Annabelle Creation

In July 2017, Warner Bros. Pictures, in conjunction with James Wan, announced the "My Annabelle Creation" competition as promotion for the then-upcoming film Annabelle: Creation. Participants of the competition were to shoot a short film which would "feel like (it) could exist within the established Conjuring world",^[63] with the winning films' directors having their films made a part of the shared film universe,^[68] and winning a trip to Los Angeles to meet with David F. Sandberg, the director of Annabelle: Creation.^[69] The entry deadline was July 27, 2017, with five separate competition winners being selected from the United States, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Sweden and Colombia.^[63][70]

Recurring cast and characters

This table lists the main characters who appear in The Conjuring Universe, in alphabetical order by the character's last name.

Table key

• An empty, dark-grey cell indicates the character was not in the film, or that the character's official presence has not yet been confirmed.


• An ^A indicates an appearance through archival footage.


• A ^C indicates a cameo role.


• An ^O indicates a role as an older version of the character.


• A ^V indicates a voice-only role.


• A ^Y indicates a role as a younger version of the character.

Reception

Box office performance

The franchise has been notable for its profit, with The Conjuring and its follow-up having earned a combined profit of $260 million, according to Deadline,^[71][72] while Annabelle managed to make 40 times its $6.5 million budget.^[73] All expenses put together, the franchise has made thus far approximately $544 million in box office profit. Film critic and box office pundit Scott Mendelson of Forbes has called the franchise the "first successful post–Marvel Cinematic Universe".^[74]

Critical response

Lawsuits

Norma Sutcliffe and Gerald Helfrich, the current owners of the house on which The Conjuring was based, have sued Wan, Warner Bros. and other producers, on the grounds that their property was being constantly vandalized as a consequence of the film. Entertainment Weekly obtained documents in which the owners affirm various invasions and ratify that they have found numerous objects affiliated with satanic cults. The lawsuit also reveals that the current owners bought the house in 1987 and lived "in peace" until 2013. Both owners had been seeking for unspecified damages. When questioned, a spokesperson for Warner Bros. declined to comment on the issue.^[91]

Gerald Brittle, author of a book about the Warrens called The Demonologist, filed a $900 million lawsuit on March 29, 2017, against Warner Bros., New Line Cinema, James Wan and others, claiming that he had the exclusive rights to the Warrens' story and that it had been illegally stolen by the studios and producers.^[92] The case was scheduled to go to trial on April 16, 2018, with a Warner Bros. spokesperson commenting, "We're pleased the Court significantly narrowed the case and look forward to addressing the remaining claims at summary judgment. Mr. Brittle's claims are not only without merit, but contradict Mr. Brittle's prior admissions in other failed lawsuits concerning The Conjuring movies".^[93] However, on December 13, 2017, Warner Bros. settled the lawsuit, revealing that Tony DeRosa-Grund, the producer of the original film, was the "mastermind" behind the lawsuit, without Brittle ever having been involved.^[94] A spokesperson commented, "New Line has contended all along that DeRosa-Grund was the mastermind behind the lawsuit, was controlling and directing the lawsuit, and had attempted to enter into secret side deals with Brittle." Brittle himself stated, "Mr. DeRosa-Grund has been controlling this litigation from the start. [...] Based on a review of text messages between Mr. DeRosa-Grund and my attorney, I understand that he even threatened my attorneys that if they sent information from me without him seeing it first they would be fired." Brittle went into further detail in the settlement. This follows repeated failed lawsuits by DeRosa-Grund to Warner Bros. for claims of owed millions of dollars from the franchise, to the point where he was getting into trouble with the courts and reached a settlement with Warner Bros. to never sue them again for anything related to the franchise.^[95][96][97]

References

External links

• 
  The Conjuring on IMDb


• 
  The Conjuring 2 on IMDb


• 
  Annabelle on IMDb


• 
  Annabelle: Creation on IMDb


• 
  The Nun on IMDb


• 
  
  Untitled Annabelle
  film on IMDb


• 
  The Conjuring 3 on IMDb


• 
  The Nurse on IMDb