The Conjuring: Last Rites director sees “next chapter” starring Matt Rife and Annabelle

The Conjuring: Last Rites is the biggest movie in the world right now, and in spite of it being the last film in the franchise, director Michael Chaves is speculating on where the series could go next.

The Conjuring: Last Rites just scored the biggest opening weekend for any horror movie in history, with its $194 million global haul overtaking the $190 million grossed by It in 2017.

The movie concludes the story of Ed and Lorraine Warren, and we write in our Conjuring: Last Rites review that as played by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga, the couple: “ground the movies, tug on the heartstrings, and help lend credence to the unbelievable – Last Rites is ultimately their story, and one that gives the Warrens the ending they deserve.”

But while it was billed as the fourth and final Conjuring movie, there might be potential for a spinoff, thanks to a bizarre purchase earlier this year…

Conjuring director wants Matt Rife to star opposite Annabelle in sequel

Warner Bros.

Back in August, comedian Matt Rife bought Ed and Lorraine Warren’s Connecticut home, as well as the Occult Museum therein. Meaning Rife now owns the real Annabelle.

That purchase has the Conjuring: Last Rites director worried about the comic’s safety, with Michael Chaves joking to EW: “I’m deeply concerned… deeply concerned. I dunno. As long as he’s got the instruction manual or whatever the blessing procedure is, I’m sure it will all be fine. I guess I am curious. I haven’t read enough about it to know why he did it.”

But being a master storyteller, Chaves also sees potential in the crossover, stating: “It does though feel like a great new chapter. If there ever was a Phase 2 of the [Conjuring] series, I think that it should begin with him just turning these viral bits with each one of the artefacts and it just goes horribly wrong.”

The stars of the Conjuring movies were previously asked by People what they thought of Rife getting his hands on the haunted artefacts. Vera Farmiga – who plays Lorraine Warren – said “I’d love to pick his brain,” and adds that she’s keen to find out “what his intentions are.”

Meanwhile Patrick Wilson – aka Ed Warren – was worried about the attention it would bring, saying “It’s a private little street. There are neighbors everywhere… so I am curious. I can’t imagine the people that live on that street want lines of cars paying money to go into the house.”

The Conjuring: Last Rites is now in cinemas, and if you’re planning a watch, here’s when to take a bathroom break. For more scary stuff, check out our picks for the best horror movies of all-time, the horror movies that are cursed in real life, and the saddest horror movie ever made.