Last Updated on May 2, 2023 by
With The Conjuring 2 scaring up big business in cinemas across the globe this past weekend, talk will inevitably turn to the potential for a third movie, and it seems director James Wan already has a story idea.
The franchise focuses on real-life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, who spent decades investigating hauntings, so there’s a wealth of cases to draw upon in future instalments, as Wan explains…
“They do have a lot of stories so I think, organically, if we’re lucky enough to tell future chapters, there’s a lot of stuff we could be pulling from.”
When pushed on the subject, Wan revealed he even has a particular case in mind. “I do have something specific but I’m not going to say it.
But I will say this – I do think Conjuring 1 and 2 are both set in the 70s, I think Conjuring 3 has got to be set in the 80s.”
And that was just about all we could get out of the horror helmer. So do you want to see the further adventures of the Warrens? Let us know in the comments, and check out his guide to making great horror below.
Chris Tilly is the Entertainment Editor for IGN in the UK and could happily watch a whole bunch of Conjuring movies.
5 Warren Case Files That Could Be the Plot of ‘The Conjuring 3’!
The Conjuring 2 won the hearts of many horror fans last weekend, and if box office receipts are any indication a sequel should be put into production soon. Though writer/director James Wan may not be at the helm due to his commitments to Aquaman, he will most likely serve as producer like he did on the Saw and Insidious sequels. The Conjuring 2 takes place at the tail end of the 1970s, so it makes sense that a sequel would take place in the 80s (even Wan has admitted this).
The Warrens had quite a few well known cases during that decade (whether or not they are “true” is up to you), giving the writers of The Conjuring 3 plenty to pick from. Check out the fun story now: https://ima.instructure.com/eportfolios/286/Home/El_Conjuro_3_Pelcula_2021_Ver_Online_en_Espaol_Latino
Here are the five most well-known case files of the Warrens that could potentially be at the center of The Conjuring 3!
The Demonic Possession of Arne Cheyenne Johnson
Otherwise known as “The Devil Made Me Do It” case, the trial of Arne Cheyenne Johnson was the first case in the United States to use demonic possession as a defense. Johnson was on trial for murdering his landlord Alan Bono on November 24, 1981 in Brookfield, Connecticut.
As part of his testimony, Johnson claimed that an 11-year-old boy acted as host to the demon that made him murder Bono. The Warrens were brought in to exorcise the demon from the child, and after several days, the demon left and entered Johnson, forcing him to kill Bono. Johnson was eventually convicted but only served five years of his 10- to 20-year sentence before being released.
This case could be useful for The Conjuring 3 in that it would force the writers to change the style of narrative. Part exorcism and part court case, it would be more in the vein of The Exorcism of Emily Rose than the first two Conjuring films you can watch the conjuring here: https://ima.instructure.com/eportfolios/413/Home/VER_El_Conjuro_3_Online_HD_2021_Pelcula_Completa_en_Espaol_Latino . This would prevent the potential sequel from becoming too familiar to audiences and critics, prompting complaints of it being “more of the same.”
The Haunting In Connecticut
James Wan has said that he opted not to use the Amityville Horror as the centerpiece of The Conjuring 2 (or any Conjuring sequel) because the case has been adapted too many times.
The Haunting in Connecticut was already adapted into a 2009 film starring Academy Award nominee Virginia Madsen, but it wasn’t very good (and neither was the DTV sequel starring Chad Michael Murray).
Read also: The Conjuring 3 The Demon Cut From Movie
Using this particular case file as the main plot of The Conjuring 3 could do justice to the story, in which the Warrens proclaimed the Snediker home to be infested with demons since it was a former funeral home. They may choose not to go this route though since, like Amityville, it’s been done before.
The Smurl Haunting
This haunting, which supposedly lasted from 1974 to 1989, took place in the home of Jack and Janet Smurl. They claimed that they witnessed multiple instances of supernatural phenomena (smells, sounds, etc.). They finally brought the Warrens in in 1986, who declared that their house was occupied by three spirits and a demon that was said to have sexually assaulted both of the Smurls. This gives the filmmaking team three ghosts and a demon to work with. It ups the stakes and could lead the way to tons of varying scares.
The Werewolf of Southend
This is my pick for a sequel if only because it’s so ridiculous. Apparently in the late 80s the Warrens claimed they exorcised a “werewolf demon” from a carpenter named Bill Ramsey.
He claimed to have experienced super-strength and bouts of aggression that he blamed on the werewolf demon that possessed him. As ridiculous as this sounds, it could make for a really great movie.
First, it would provide a different take on the werewolf sub-genre, a sub-genre that has become stale in recent years. Second, it’s something that, to my knowledge, hasn’t ever been done before in a film, find out more details here: https://ima.instructure.com/eportfolios/413/Home/El_Conjuro_3_El_Diablo_Me_Oblig_A_Hacerlo_2021_Pelcula_Completa.
I mean, it’s a werewolf demon! The only reason I could see them not going this route (and any of the cases listed after this) would be because it takes place too late in the 80s and would mean skipping over a bunch of well known case files. This limits the cases they could use for future sequels.
The White Lady of Union Cemetery
Finally, we’ve got the White Lady of Union Cemetery. Located in Easton, Connecticut, Union Cemetery is considered to be one of the most haunted cemeteries in the United States. The “White Lady” is said to wear, you guessed it, a white dress or nightgown while haunting said cemetery.
Ed Warren claimed to have seen the ghost in person. The legend of the White Lady is told in many countries, which means the writers could pick which location and iteration of the White Lady they would like to use for the film.
This case file takes place in the late 80s/early 90s and, like the Werewolf Demon, would mean skipping over a bunch of well-known cases. It is doubtful they would choose this case file, but it could be fun! Find out how The Conjuring 3 is in Latinoamerican theaters: https://ima.instructure.com/eportfolios/286/Home/VER_El_Conjuro_3_en_Espaol_Latino__Pelcula_2021
Which of the above case files do you want to see adapted in The Conjuring 3? It may not be the same without Wan behind the camera, but at least there’s enough material to mine out of each of these cases to make for a terrifying film!
Apart from that if you want to know about The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It’ Defeats ‘A Quiet Place 2’ at Weekend Box Office then please visit our Entertainment category.
