First Images Of THE CONJURING: LAST RITES Tease The Warrens’ “Darkest” Case

The final chapter of the Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga-lead series hits theaters on September 5.
ByAmber T

One of horror's biggest franchises closes a chapter with The Conjuring: Last Rites, with today bringing a first look at stars Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga in the roles of Ed and Lorraine Warren for the last time.

Hitting theaters on September 5, The Conjuring: Last Rites marks the fourth film of The Conjuring story, following 2021's The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It. Michael Chaves (The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, The Nun II) directs the last in the mainline series from a screenplay by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick, Ian Goldberg and Richard Naing.

In a new interview with Entertainment Weekly, Chaves confirms that, although he was tempted to go for an “endgame” sort of plot that would see the Warrens take down every Conjuring entity, Last Rites will in fact be based on the infamous Smurl family haunting, which was said to have taken place from 1974 to 1989 in West Pittston, PA.

Per EW, Rebecca Calder (Wrath of Man) and Elliot Cowan (Foundation) will star as Janet and Jack Smurl, with the rest of the family portrayed by Kíla Lord Cassidy (Heather), Beau Gadsdon (Dawn), Tilly Walker (Carin), Molly Cartwright (Shannon), Peter Wight (Grandpa Smurl), and Kate Fahy (Grandma Smurl).

Also speaking with EW, Chaves teases that the Smurl case is “the darkest thing we've ever seen” in the series.

While The Conjuring: Last Rites marks the last outing for Wilson and Farmiga, there's still the The Conjuring television series in development that's being executive produced by series creator James Wan and Peter Safran for Max. EW note that there are no new details to reveal publicly about the series at this time.

Here's When You Can Watch PREDATOR: BADLANDS At Home
Trending
Here's When You Can Watch PREDATOR: BADLANDS At Home

There's also “Phase Two” of The Conjuring cinematic universe set to come, with Richard Brenner, head of New Line, previously implying that another wave of Conjuring films could be on the horizon. Whatever the case, we can hardly imagine this being the end of the highest-grossing horror franchise to date.

Look out for more on The Conjuring: Last Rites as we get it and scroll on for first look images courtesy of EW.

Image courtesy of Entertainment Weekly/Giles Keyte/Warner Bros.
Image courtesy of Entertainment Weekly/Giles Keyte/Warner Bros.
Image courtesy of Entertainment Weekly/Giles Keyte/Warner Bros.
Image courtesy of Entertainment Weekly/Giles Keyte/Warner Bros.
Image courtesy of Entertainment Weekly/Giles Keyte/Warner Bros.
Image courtesy of Entertainment Weekly/Giles Keyte/Warner Bros.
Image courtesy of Entertainment Weekly/Giles Keyte/Warner Bros.
Image courtesy of Entertainment Weekly/Giles Keyte/Warner Bros.

Post Tags:

Amber T is FANGORIA's Head News Writer, resident Brit, and Japanese horror expert. Her non-news writing can be found on physical media releases by ARROW, Second Sight Films, 88 Films, Umbrella Entertainment, Radiance Films and ERROR 4444, as well as frequently in FANGORIA's glossy paper pages.