‘The Conjuring: Last Rites‘ is shaping up to be the spine-chilling farewell we didn’t know we needed. But did you know it was almost an all-out demon-packed showdown like ‘Avengers: Endgame‘?
The creators behind the iconic ‘Conjuring‘ franchise once “toyed with the idea” of turning the final film into a supernatural cinematic crossover of epic proportions.
A Monster Mash Almost Happened In ‘The Conjuring: Last Rites’
In a recent EW cover story, producer Peter Safran spilled the tea on how the finale was secretly nicknamed ‘Conjuring: Endgame’ during development. “When we were developing the movie, we always called it Conjuring: Endgame because it was a culmination of a great story that audiences had been with,” Safran revealed.
“I’m not saying that our movie is the same as the Avengers: Endgame run of movies,” he emphasized, “but there was something about building an audience through this storytelling mechanism, through Ed and Lorraine Warren. Knowing that Last Rites was going to be the last one made us put a lot into it to make sure that it was an incredibly satisfying experience and a really emotional experience.”
Related: ‘The Conjuring’ Universe: All Movies Ranked
“We toyed with the idea,” Safran admitted. Director Michael Chaves, who’s already made his mark with ‘The Curse of La Llorona’, ‘The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It‘, and ‘The Nun II‘, echoed the chaotic brainstorming sessions. “Even as we were developing it, we were throwing a bunch of ideas out: ‘How shamelessly big can we make it?’ ‘How epic can we make it?’ ‘Is this the culmination of all the demons coming to face them?‘” said Chaves.
But ultimately, the creative team pivoted away from the spectacle. Why? Because sometimes, the scariest stories are the most personal. “I felt strongly that the biggest, most emotional story we could tell was the most personal story,” Chaves explained.
Back From Retirement For One Final Haunt
Last Case. Last Rites. #TheConjuring: Last Rites – Only in Theaters September 5. pic.twitter.com/CIuwFTF3j0
— The Conjuring (@TheConjuring) May 8, 2025
Set five years after ‘The Devil Made Me Do It’, ‘The Conjuring: Last Rites’ picks up in 1986, with Ed, played by Patrick Wilson, and Lorraine Warren, played by Vera Farmiga, dusting off their crucifixes and coming out of retirement to investigate the infamous Smurl family haunting.
This case will center around Janet and Jack Smurl, played by Rebecca Calder and Elliot Cowan, and their daughters: Kíla Lord Cassidy (Heather), Beau Gadsdon (Dawn), Tilly Walker (Carin), and Molly Cartwright (Shannon). Rounding out the family are Jack’s parents, Grandpa and Grandma Smurl, portrayed by Peter Wight and Kate Fahy.
In case you missed it: ‘The Conjuring: Last Rites’ Can Bring These Terrifying Real Stories To Screen
But the emotional heart of this movie will be their daughter, Judy Warren. Now in her 20s and played by Mia Tomlinson, Judy is tapping into powers she didn’t ask for and Lorraine is super worried. “Lorraine’s got this full-bar Wi-Fi of clairvoyance, and there’s a bar or two that start popping up for Judy,” Vera Farmiga said. “She’s obviously inherited this spiritual sensitivity and, of course, it deepens Lorraine’s concerns, not just as a mother, but as someone who really understands the burden of those sensibilities.”
Also entering the picture is Judy’s boyfriend and future husband, Tony Spera, played by Ben Hardy. Their blossoming relationship adds another emotional layer, especially as Judy begins to realize her inheritance of clairvoyant abilities.
Fan Favorites Might Just Return In ‘The Conjuring: Last Rites’
Even though the movie aims to be accessible for first-timers, ‘The Conjuring: Last Rites’ will throw a few bones to longtime fans of the horror universe. Safran teased that there will be some surprise appearances that’ll have Conjuring die-hards screaming with joy.
“Without any spoilers, we took the opportunity to maybe bring back some fan favorites,” he teased. “You can watch this movie never having seen a Conjuring movie and have a totally satisfying viewing experience, but if you’re a little bit more of a dedicated Conjuring fan, there’s a lot in this for you that maybe a more casual viewer wouldn’t necessarily pick out.”
‘The Conjuring: Last Rites’ opens in theaters Sept. 5
