(Left) Patrick Wilson directs and stars in ‘Insidious: The Red Door.’ (Right) Jason Ritter Promoting Netflix’s ‘Raising Dion’ Season 2.
Preview:
Jason Ritter and Patrick Wilson will appear in ‘The Last of Us’ Season 3.
Ariela Barer, Tati Gabrielle and Spencer Lord are all becoming regulars.
Bella Ramsey and Isabela Merced are among those returning.While the second season of post-apocalyptic video game adaptation ‘The Last of Us’ proved to be a more divisive run of episodes, it certainly still saw big viewership for HBO.
And trivia note: this actually marks Ritter’s second turn on the show: he previously had an uncredited role of a Clicker (the nickname for those infected with the mutated cordyceps fungus) on two episodes of Season 1, appearing alongside his wife, Melanie Lynskey.
(L to R) Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey in ‘The Last of Us’ season 1. Photo: Liane Hentscher/HBO.
Adapting the hugely successful Naughty Dog video game title, ‘The Last of Us’ takes place 20 years after modern civilization has been destroyed by a fungal outbreak that mutates its victims.
Joel, played by Pedro Pascal, a hardened survivor, is hired to smuggle Ellie (Bella Ramsey), a 14-year-old girl, out of an oppressive quarantine zone. What starts as a small job soon becomes a brutal and heartbreaking journey as they both must traverse the U.S. and depend on each other for survival.
Season 2, set five years after the events of the first, brought even more dramatic events into the lives of our heroes. And while Season 3 has yet to offer an official plotline, it’ll reportedly show several of the second season’s events from the perspective of Abby (Kaitlyn Dever).
When will ‘The Last of Us’ Season 3 be on screens?
HBO has yet to announce a date for the new season, though 2027 seems likely given the time needed to shoot and put the episodes through post-production.
Kaitlyn Dever in ‘The Last of Us’ Season 2. Photograph by Liane Hentscher/HBO.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of sitting down in-person with Adam Sandler and Oscar winner Laura Dern to talk about their work on ‘Jay Kelly’, Dern’s first reaction to the screenplay, Sandler’s approach to his character, working with George Clooney, and reuniting with director Noah Baumbach.
(L to R) Laura Dern and Adam Sandler star in ‘Jay Kelly’.
You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Sandler and Dern, as well as George Clooney and Emily Mortimer.
Moviefone: To begin with, Laura, can you talk about your first reaction to the screenplay and the way you approached playing this character?
Laura Dern: I mean, I fell in love with the script. Before we ever read the script, Noah saying that he had written something, and he wanted us to be part of it is just a yes immediately and a please. We didn’t know for sure our characters or exactly what it was and the evolution of his writing process and then he and Emily (Mortimer) got together. We’d get little bits and pieces. So, it was incredible reading it and knowing that he wanted to make a movie about not missing it. He talked about that, and he talks about reverse engineering from the last line of the movie, which is what he thought of first and that was so beautiful. Then all he had to say was, “I was going to get to be with Adam.” The greatest gift possible, and to be with George. It was true family.
MF: Adam, can you talk about your approach to your character, and did you draw influence from any real-life people you know or have worked with?
Adam Sandler: Sure. I have a team. Laura has a team. Clooney has a team. We all have people who grew up with us, worked with us and feel the highs and feel the times where you say, “I got to make a move and do something different,” or that kind of stuff, and they back you up and you always feel comfort with them. I love being a teammate like this for Clooney’s character. We were excited to make a movie together. We’ve been talking about this a long time.
MF: Adam, George told us that he was very excited to make this movie with you. What was your experience like working with him?
AS: All of us kind of got more in love with each other and became family. George does not like to talk about himself much. He just talks about you, how he can help you and who you should call. He goes, “You got to make sure you do this.” He looks out for your health; he looks out for the best place to eat and what’s the best gadget to use when you’re working out. He’s a stud. He’s just a nice person and he goes out of his way. When you talk about him, he’s just like, “No, no, no, no, no. Let’s not.” He doesn’t want to talk about himself much.
MF: Laura, what was it like for you working with George?
LD: I mean, just fierce loyalty beyond measure, there for us. If it’s the hardest moment or the most casual conversation about something we need to have or a meal we need to try, or an experience he wants us to have. “Oh, you got to see this thing. You guys, it’s a 20-minute drive. You got to go.”
Noah Baumbach attends the Headline Gala screening of Netflix’s ‘Jay Kelly’ during the 69th BFI London Film Festival at The Royal Festival Hall on October 10th, 2025 in London, England. Photo by StillMoving.Net for Netflix.
MF: Finally, you’ve both worked with director Noah Baumbach before, but what was it like reuniting with him on this movie?
AS: I mean, you give yourself to every thought he has. You have some moments where you bring thoughts up and try to connect more with what you’re doing or what you’re saying or where you’re at in the movie, but he just has a gentle way of guiding you and saying exactly what he’s going after, and you trust his vision. That’s a good feeling. You just say, “All right. Whatever Noah’s looking for, let me make sure I get it because it’s all part of his plan.” You have room, but it’s still word for word. You want to say it. He likes when you nail it. When I first read this thing, I enjoyed the way it was phrased, so let me make sure I phrase it just like that.
LD: I mean, that’s so perfectly put. I would just add that, as you said, in the rhythm, there’s a musicality to language for him, but there’s nothing strident, like you’re there and he wants you to try it the way that feels true to you. It’s wild to have it be so specific and meticulous and then have all the room in the world.
‘Jay Kelly’ opens in theaters on November 14th and premieres on Netflix December 5th.
What’s the story of ‘Jay Kelly’?
The film follows famous movie actor, Jay Kelly (George Clooney), as he embarks on a journey of self-discovery confronting both his past and present, accompanied by his devoted manager Ron (Adam Sandler).
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of sitting down in-person with Oscar winner George Clooney to talk about his work on ‘Jay Kelly’, why he signed on to the project before reading the script, if he could relate to the character, why he wanted to work with Adam Sandler, and what he learned from collaborating with director Noah Baumbach.
George Clooney stars in ‘Jay Kelly’.
You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Clooney, Adam Sandler, Laura Dern, and Emily Mortimer.
Moviefone: To begin with, I heard that you signed on to this project before reading the script because you were so excited to work with Adam Sandler and director Noah Baumbach. Can you talk about that, and have you ever done that before?
George Clooney: Yeah. I got a call, I was doing ‘Out of Sight’, and I got a call from the Coenbrothers. They said, “We’re going to send you a script if you want to do it.” I said, “I’m going to do it,” before (I read it). It was ‘O Brother, Where Art Thou?’ So, I’ve had a couple of times. There are directors in our business that you want to work with, and you would work with under any circumstances. I’d do the same thing with Alexander Payne if he called me or (Steven) Soderbergh obviously, and Alfonso Cuarón, some directors I’ve been very lucky to work with. Jason Reitman is a friend. But then I read it, and I thought, “Well, this is a really exciting project to do.” I know it sounds unusual to say but there aren’t that many great scripts. There aren’t that many great projects that you get to be a part of. When you get older, the parts become less and less. So, to be 64 years old and have somebody bring a script and a role like this, I just feel very lucky.
MF: I’ve also heard you say that when you did read the screenplay, you didn’t relate to your character. What did you mean by that and as an actor, is it better to not relate to the character because it gives you more objectivity in the performance?
GC: Well, I think you must find a way to relate. When I see the movie, I get why people go, “Oh, there’s a lot of similarity.” But when I read it, this character, he’s a guy who lives with just regret. He lives with all these things, these roads he didn’t travel, these things that he missed in life. I feel as if, for me, in general, although there’s always regret, it doesn’t fill my days and nights. When you get to the fork in the road, I’ve tended to take the more difficult fork. I’ve felt that, although I failed, which you can live with failure, it’s much easier to live with failure than it is to live with regret. So, when I read the script, it didn’t dawn on me that that it could be who I was. It just dawned on me that I was interested in playing a guy who didn’t take those turns.
MF: I know that you’ve been friends with Adam Sandler for a long time, what was it like to finally work with him on this film?
GC: Well, Adam’s a wonderful actor. That’s what sometimes people forget because he does broad comedies too and does stand-up and things. So, sometimes it gets lost in the idea that he really is a beautiful actor, and we’ve been friends for 30 years. I knew he’d be great in the part, and then the minute we got on the set, it was easy. The rehearsal process was fun. There’s a certain amount of confidence in actors, particularly of a certain age, when they’re not trying to own every scene. They’re kind of actively trying to give it to the other person. Adam and I felt that we were both going, “Oh, you get that. You take that.” There’s a kindness to that, that comes off, I think, on screen.
MF: Finally, what did you learn from watching the way Noah Baumbach makes movies that you might want to adopt yourself the next time you direct a film?
GC: Well, that’s an interesting question. For the most part, the directors that I’ve worked with don’t rehearse. They don’t believe in it. The Coen brothers don’t really rehearse, and Soderbergh doesn’t rehearse. They kind of feel like it’s all going to happen, and I’ve always worked that way as a director. I was resistant to rehearsing because I’m going to work whatever way the director wants. I think rehearsal is an interesting thing, particularly on a film that’s so deeply designed into performances. So, I think rehearsal was an interesting thing to watch and to pay attention to, and maybe something that can be more applied as time goes on.
‘Jay Kelly’ opens in theaters on November 14th and premieres on Netflix December 5th.
What’s the story of ‘Jay Kelly’?
The film follows famous movie actor, Jay Kelly (George Clooney), as he embarks on a journey of self-discovery confronting both his past and present, accompanied by his devoted manager Ron (Adam Sandler).
In Theaters on limited release on November 14 (before landing on Netflix December 5), ‘Jay Kelly’ is the new movie from Noah Baumbach, who tends to specialize in putting his characters into emotional crisis. Here, he’s turned his attention to Hollywood.
Noam Baumbach’s movies usually find characters at some sort of dramatic crossroads –– the marital fireworks of ‘Marriage Story’ or the family dynamics of ‘The Meyerowitz Stories.’
‘Jay Kelly’ is no different, even if the crises seem less urgent when focused on a wealthy movie star whose biggest issue is that his youngest daughter is about to fly the nest and he’s also reconsidering his life and career in the light of his mentor’s death.
Baumbach in some ways feels like he’s on autopilot here, the story (he co-wrote the script with Emily Mortimer, who has a small role in the movie) fueled by some very familiar beats and feelings. This is a plotline we’ve seen done before and, honestly, better.
Oddly, the real story, and the one that is much more compelling is between Sandler’s Ron and Dern’s Liz, Jay’s longtime manager and publicist, who have their own history and find themselves seeing their relationship complicate despite Ron’s seemingly happy marriage to Greta Gerwig’s Lois.
Baumbach keeps the direction mostly light on its feet, though some repetitive touches (such as Kelly’s rider containing cheesecake he doesn’t even like) weigh things down.
And the use of clunky flashbacks to explore our hero’s conflicted feelings doesn’t help.
Clooney brings his considerable star wattage to the title role, and is always watchable. It’s just an issue that the role never breaks free of a basic movie structure.
Sandler and Dern are superb in their supporting roles that have more nuance and flavor to them, while Greta Gerwig is also great as Sandler’s character’s wife.
‘Jay Kelly’ is far from Baumbach’s best, even with the cast giving their all. It’s emotionally formulaic, but wanders along amiably enough that you won’t be insulted you gave it a shot.
‘Jay Kelly’ receives 65 out of 100.
‘Jay Kelly’ opens in theaters on November 14th and premieres on Netflix December 5th.
What’s the story of ‘Jay Kelly’?
The film follows famous movie actor, Jay Kelly (George Clooney), as he embarks on a journey of self-discovery confronting both his past and present, accompanied by his devoted manager Ron (Adam Sandler).
In fact, if Warner Bros. and New Line have their way, there will certainly be more. According to The InSneider, a prequel movie is now in development.
gb9DOCOXvGEq5NH7gF1ZL4
Details are somewhat scarce on the movie so far, but we do know that Rodrigue Huart, who has seen success in the short film arena, is in talks to direct.
Right now, the story is a mystery, beyond the notion that it’ll turn the clock back to the early days of Ed and Lorraine Warren, as played in the main ‘Conjuring’ franchise by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga.
Whether either actor will be back for bookend scenes, it seems more likely that new people will be stepping into the roles.
What we do know is that Richard Naing and Ian Goldberg, who co-wrote 2023’s ‘The Nun II’ and this year’s ‘Last Rites’ are aboard to script this new movie.
What else is happening in the ‘Conjuring’ universe?
A TV spin-off of the movies has been in the works for some time, and recently hired Nancy Won, a veteran of shows such as Apple TV‘s ‘Sunny’, Netflix‘s ‘Jessica Jones’ and ‘Little Fires Everywhere’ on Hulu to be showrunner, executive producer and head writer for the series.
Plot information is unavailable right now, but the show will apparently continue the story in some fashion, likely without using the Warrens (but we won’t count them out).
The movie series’ Peter Safran remains onboard as an executive producer, with James Wan’s Atomic Monster company also producing. Wan, of course, launched the movie series with 2013’s ‘The Conjuring’.
Also hired for the show were writers Peter Cameron and Cameron Squires, who have Marvel shows and other genre work on their resumes.
When will this ‘The Conjuring’ prequel movie be in theaters?
With none of the deals officially in place yet, we wouldn’t expect this next chunk of scare tactics to be out much before 2027 at the earliest.
(L to R) Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga in ‘The Conjuring’. Photo: Warner Bros.
Preview:
A ‘The Conjuring’ TV series is in development.
Nancy Won will be showrunner.
The series will be on HBO Max.
With the most recent entry of ‘The Conjuring’ cinematic horror franchise, ‘Last Rites’, delivering giant box office results, you knew there was going to be more.
And the news feels like the right time for an update on the gestating TV series that has been in development at HBO Max since 2023.
There are few details available about the show right now, though Variety’s report mentions that the show will continue some aspect of the ‘Conjuring’ storyline.
Whether that means any appearances of Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga as Ed and Lorraine Warren, the main characters (based on real-life supernatural investigators) remains to be seen, but we can imagine the show exploring its own corner of the universe.
There is, let’s not forget other avenues the show could exploit, including ‘The Nun’ and ‘Annabelle’ movie spin-off timelines, but chances are it’ll plough its own row.
The movie series’ Peter Safran remains onboard as an executive producer, with James Wan’s Atomic Monster company also producing. Wan, of course, launched the movie series with 2013’s ‘The Conjuring’.
Also hired for the show were writers Peter Cameron and Cameron Squires, who have Marvel shows and other genre work on their resumes.
What other movie spin-offs are headed to HBO Max?
(L to R) Aaron Pierre as John Stewart and Kyle Chandler as Hal Jordan in ‘Lanterns’. Photo: John P. Johnson/HBO.
Alongside the ‘Conjuring’ show, fellow horror franchise ‘It’ has its own spin-off hitting HBO Max starting October 26th called ‘IT: ‘Welcome to Derry’. It’s a prequel set in the 1960s.
And while it’s not strictly a spin-off from an existing movie, superhero series ‘Lanterns’ is part of the DC Studios universe and will include appearances from Nathan Fillion’s Guy Gardner, whose character was introduced in ‘Superman’.
When will the ‘Conjuring’ series be on HBO Max?
Since it’s at such an early stage, there is no information yet on when the show might hit the streaming service.
‘The Conjuring: Last Rites’ opened big at the global box office.
It represents the most successful launch for a ‘Conjuring’ movie.
And Warner Bros. is on a remarkable run.
The ‘Conjuring’ franchise –– launched back in 2013 by James Wan –– has been quite the reliable performer for Warner Bros., and this past weekend’s launch of latest entry ‘The Conjuring: Last Rites’ certainly kept that tradition alive.
‘Last Rites’, advertised as the final outing for Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga’s supernatural investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, took in an impressive $83 million in its first three days.
gb9DOCOXvGEq5NH7gF1ZL4
That makes it the most successful entry in a franchise that, via a run of nine movies including sequels and spin-offs, has earned $2.3 billion.
This ‘Last Rites’ launch was easily enough to win the box office here in the US, and with $194 million worldwide, it is also the most successful launch for a horror title globally, overtaking Warners’ own ‘It’.
The success of ‘Last Rites’ marks an impressive theatrical run for Warner Bros. as the seventh consecutive release to open above $40 million. No other studio has ever achieved that level of consistency at the box office.
It’s even more remarkable when you consider that earlier in the year, the studio had suffered a series of duds from 2024 and the initial months of 2024 including ‘Joker: Folie a Deux’, ‘Mickey 17’ and ‘The Alto Knights’.
Studio Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group co-chiefs Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy were at risk of being fired until the likes of ‘A Minecraft Movie’, ‘Sinners’, ‘Superman’ and more began a run of hits, with movies sticking around beyond their first weekend.
What else happened at the box office this weekend?
Disney’s theatrical release of the filmed ‘Hamilton’ stage musical was a distant second, earning $10 million from 1,825 screens. It’s a solid start given that the movie has been on Disney+ since 2020.
It’s kind of amazing to realize that the ‘Conjuring’ universe is the only successful shared cinematic universe that doesn’t have superheroes in it. But after 12 years and $2.2 billion in box office receipts, this spooky paranormal saga revolving primarily around the real-life case files of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren is finally coming to a close.
After the tedious, going-through-the-motions disappointment of 2021’s ‘The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It,’ we’re glad to report that ‘The Conjuring: Last Rites’ finds the series on much better footing as it heads for the door. While it doesn’t quite match up to the first two installments, and there’s a certain amount of formula now permanently ingrained in the proceedings, ‘Last Rites’ is a more energetic, creepier, and emotional sendoff, anchored like all these films by the chemistry between stars Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga.
It’s 1986, and Ed and Lorraine Warren are all but retired from the paranormal investigation business due to Ed’s health issues and Lorraine’s fear of bringing evil forces down upon their heads and that of their now grown daughter Judy. At the same time, Ed is restless: the couple find themselves lecturing to near-empty college classrooms full of snickering students, and he’s not adapting well to a private life where he has to order the salad in a restaurant instead of lasagna.
So when they are approached about the case of Jack and Janet Smurl – whose family and house in West Pittston, Pennsylvania are seemingly under assault from a demonic entity – the Warrens find themselves pulled back in just when they thought they were out. But there’s an added wrinkle, as whatever is haunting the Smurls has its sights set on Judy as well, and is already sinking its psychic talons into her.
Director Michael Chaves – returning from ‘The Devil Made Me Do It’ – seems more confident here, even though he sticks squarely to the cinematic playbook of ‘Conjuring’ franchise mastermind and original series director James Wan. That means we get Wan’s trademark sweeps of dark rooms with even darker corners, which are surprisingly still effective: you can’t help but tense up anytime the camera lingers on those negative spaces. The demonic apparitions are spooky if fairly familiar, and some of the film plays like a ‘greatest hits’ as even haunted doll Annabelle makes a return for reasons that remain unclear at best.
But it’s the additional stakes for the Warrens that make ‘Last Rites’ largely work. While the film suffers from being a bit too long and suffers from stop-and-go pacing accordingly, the script (by Ian Goldberg, Richard Naing, and series regular David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick, from a story by Johnson-McGoldrick and Wan) puts much more emphasis on the family dynamics of the Warrens as they try to leave their past behind for the sake of their health and safety. We have no idea what the Warrens were like in real life or whether they believed in what they were doing, but the fictional family portrayed here is likable, brave, and sympathetic. It’s what ultimately makes the scares land, and keeps the viewer invested even through the clumsier parts.
As noted earlier, the main ‘Conjuring’ films have benefited enormously from the work of Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga. They have become as comfortable in the roles as your favorite Marvel or ‘Fast and the Furious’ superhero, and their empathy and warmth go a long way in making this horror franchise relatable. The pair also do a lot of the heavy lifting here, especially when the script bogs down, and they add enough to the more emotional moments to sell them successfully.
The rest of the cast is fine, if somewhat generic. Mia Tomlinson gets some moments to shine as the Warrens’ daughter Judy, while Ben Hardy is likable if a bit bland as her boyfriend Tony. The Smurls, unfortunately, are a more generic lot, and with much of the emphasis on the Warrens, the family at the center of the haunting never really rises above the level of ghostly punching bags.
As with any sustained media franchise, the universe of ‘The Conjuring’ has had its highs and lows. The third ‘Conjuring’ film, both ‘Nun’ entries, and the first ‘Annabelle’ probably rank pretty low, while the initial ‘Conjuring’ films and the underrated ‘Annabelle Comes Home’ sit at the top of the heap.
‘Last Rites’ ends up somewhere in the middle, perhaps a bit closer to the top thanks to the emotional connection of its leads and its ability to still mine some genuine scares out of this material. The end of the film gives the Warrens a satisfying goodbye, and no matter what you think about the real-life couple or their alleged experiences, James Wan and company have created a horror saga in which good-hearted characters are the protagonists, not a masked killer or supernatural being. We’ll take over all the Jasons and Art the Clowns in the world.
‘The Conjuring: Last Rites’ receives a score of 75 out of 100.
Paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga) take on one last case that may prove to be their most dangerous yet, as a demonic entity attacks not just an innocent family but the Warrens’ daughter Judy (Mia Tomlinson).
Who is in the cast of ‘The Conjuring: Last Rites’?
Aquaman, now a father to Arthur Curry Jr., is trying to find a balance in being a father and the King of Atlantis. Black Manta, driven blind by revenge, sets out to track down the mythic Black Trident, a weapon with ancient powers. As Black Manta closes in, Aquaman must turn to the former King of Atlantis – Orm, to forge an alliance. Together, they will protect the kingdom and Aquaman’s family.
The underwater comic book movie held its US premiere on December 19, 2023 at The Grove in Los Angeles. The film was released domestically on December 22, 2023. Originally, ‘Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’ was scheduled to be released on December 16, 2022. The film’s release was changed three times due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the reshuffling of the studio’s release dates.
‘Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’ has a runtime of 2 hours and 4 minutes. If you missed the movie on the big screen, it is now available to rent or purchase on VOD platforms such as Apple TV, Prime Video, Google Play, YouTube, and Vudu. Prices range from $19.99 for rental or $24.99 for purchase.
Since the first ‘Aquaman‘ film is available to stream on Max, it is likely the sequel will eventually land on the streaming platform. However, an official date has not been released or confirmed by Warner Bros Discovery.
For fans of physical media, you’re in luck. ‘Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’ is now available for pre-order. Prices range from $19.99 for DVD, $24.96 for Blu-ray, and $32.99 for 4K UHD. There’s also an option to purchase a two-film collection, which will include the first film ‘Aquaman’ and the sequel ‘Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.’ for $32.99. The official release date for home release is March 12, 2024.
To go up against Black Manta, who wields the power of the Black Trident, Aquaman needed to team up with his brother (and former King of Atlantis), Orm. Although an unlikely pair, Jason Momoa and Patrick Wilson made for a great duo screen, whether it be brotherly witty banters or coordinated fight scenes. Their chemistry amplified the movie.
‘Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’ is the final movie of the previous DECU era. Current DC co-chairs James Gunn and Peter Safran are working towards their new vision for DC. The two previously announced ‘Superman Legacy,’ a film that will be a part of the new DC Universe Chapter One, ‘Gods and Monsters.’ Other DC films, such as ‘Joker: Folie á Deux’ will exist in Elseworld.
This could mean that there’s a slight chance we can see Momoa’s Aquaman return in some capacity, as Elseworld stories do not connect to the main canon of the new DCU.
Gunn and Safran introduced their new DC slate a year ago and have announced that ‘Superman Legacy’ has started production, and the ‘Creature Commandos’ episodes are being finished, with the series being released later this year. Gunn also teases upcoming projects and says, “incredible talents are being attached to new projects, planned & unplanned.”
“Today, ‘Superman Legacy’ is about to start production, episodes of ‘Creature Commandos’ are being finished that will release later this year, at least 2 more projects are gearing up to go in the next couple months, amazing scripts keep coming in, & incredible talent are being attached to new projects, planned & unplanned. Thank you!!”
Watch the official trailers for ‘Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’ below:
YtTwa41i
The official synopsis for ‘Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’ is below:
After failing to defeat Aquaman the first time, Black Manta wields the power of the mythic Black Trident to unleash an ancient and malevolent force. Hoping to end his reign of terror, Aquaman forges an unlikely alliance with his brother, Orm, the former king of Atlantis. Setting aside their differences, they join forces to protect their kingdom and save the world from irreversible destruction.
(L to R) Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga in ‘The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It.’ Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures.
Preview:
Michael Chaves has closed a deal to direct the next ‘Conjuring’ Movie.
Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga are likely to return as Ed and Lorraine Warren.
The movie could signal the end of the main ‘Conjuring’ run.
The ‘Conjuring’ movies have long become one of the most successful horror franchises since James Wan made the 2013 original, which went on to earn nearly $320 million worldwide from a $20 million budget.
It has spawned not just sequels but also spin-offs, including the ‘Annabelle’ movies (about the diabolical doll who lurks in the Warren’s collection of haunted objects) and the ‘Nun’ films (which fill in the backstory of the demonic habit-wearer who briefly appears in ‘The Conjuring 2’. All told, the movies have so far made a combined $2.1 billion at the worldwide box office.
It’s somewhat surprising to learn, then, that the fourth –– which currently has no official title but was at one point called ‘Last Rites’ –– could bring the films to a close, at least those directly featuring paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, played by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga.
We do now know, though that Michael Chaves, who directed ‘The Curse of La Llorona’ (which isn’t technically part of the ‘Conjuring’ universe but has seen a character crossover into the ‘Annabelle’ movies and was produced by Wan), ‘The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It’ (the third in the main series), and, most recently, ‘The Nun II’ is officially aboard for the new movie.
OoFa00KsBGiGImqcTqZwS
What’s the story of the new ‘Conjuring’ movie?
(L to R) Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson in ‘The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It.’ Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures.
Nothing has been released about the potential story for the new movie, though the end of ‘The Nun II’ saw Ed and Lorraine show up, pointing to a possible crossover between the main movies and the nun-centric spin-off.
Here’s what Chavez told Screen Rant about the connection back in September:
“In terms of the exorcism of Maurice, that’s always been a center, a cornerstone marker in the timeline and I think it’s up to interpretation. It’s also, I think there’s a lot of things that need to align, so it could go a couple different ways. As an audience member, I would 100% see a crossover of all Conjuring demons. I couldn’t give away what I know about what’s being developed, but I know that they’re going to end with a bang. I know that there is a great finale being planned for ‘Last Rites’ and as to what or who’s in it… I don’t want to give away any spoilers.”
Regular writer David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick returned for the new movie, and the cameras should be rolling this summer in Atlanta, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Who will be in the new ‘Conjuring’ movie?
(L to R) Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson in ‘The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It.’ Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures.
We can assume Wilson and Farmiga will return, and possibly either McKenna Grace or someone else playing their daughter Judy. The movies have usually tended to be stand-alone cases, so a new cast around the leads is likely.
Even if the movies do come to an end –– and more spin-offs are likely anyway –– there is still the ‘Conjuring’ TV series in development at Max. The creative team has stayed quiet as to what that might include, but if greenlit, the series will surely continue to bring fresh terror.
(L to R) Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson in ‘The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It.’ Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures.
