On the last day of filming his final Conjuring movie, Patrick Wilson didn't have some momentous cathartic moment, as Entertainment Weekly reveals in their exclusive coverage of "The Conjuring: Last Rites," set for release on September 5. Wilson, who has portrayed demonologist Ed Warren for 12 years, simply doesn't view life in those terms, telling EW, "There's only so many times you can say, 'This is the worst case we've ever had!'" Vera Farmiga, his on-screen wife who plays clairvoyant Lorraine Warren, shared similar sentiments, joking that her "rosary literally busted apart" and "the beads were like, 'Girl, we're out of here!'" Entertainment Weekly notes that it's only when Wilson and Farmiga think of each other that the quips subside and tears begin to flow.
Their bond, forged through supernatural horrors across multiple films since 2013, has created what Farmiga calls "the absolutely best arranged marriage in the history of arranged marriages." The film, directed by Michael Chaves, takes place in 1986, five years after "The Devil Made Me Do It," with the Warrens having retired from the exorcist business following Ed's heart attack, though certain events force them back for one final case, according to Entertainment Weekly's exclusive report.
The case at the center of Last Rites is one of the more famous events from the Warrens' career: the Smurl family haunting, as People magazine details in their coverage. Rebecca Calder and Elliot Cowan portray Janet and Jack Smurl, who moved their family into a duplex in West Pittston, Pennsylvania, in the 1970s and subsequently claimed to experience supernatural occurrences ranging from strange odors and voices to ghostly molestations. People reports that the Smurls' appearances on TV programs such as Larry King Live and Entertainment Tonight made it one of the more publicized cases of supposed supernatural activity, though it also gave skeptics ammunition to claim they sought public attention.
The story previously became the subject of the book "The Haunted: One Family's Nightmare" (1986) and a 1991 made-for-TV movie starring Sally Kirkland. Farmiga told People that audiences are "going to witness a moment in the Warrens' lives — and a pretty profound moment" in the new film, adding, "It's a moment that makes time stand still. This one's different than the others. The other three were about hauntings, and this one is about reckoning, in a way." When production wrapped in November 2024, Farmiga honored her on-screen husband on Instagram, writing "Roundabout 5000 days ago, this guy and I signed a WB contract and said 'I do' to embodying Ed and Lorraine Warren. Here's to 12 years."
The official trailer for "The Conjuring: Last Rites" shows paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren back in action as they tackle another frightening case, according to Variety. This time, Wilson and Farmiga are joined by Ben Hardy ("Bohemian Rhapsody") and Mia Tomlinson ("The Beast Must Die"), who are new to the franchise. Variety reports that while the first two "Conjuring" movies were helmed by James Wan, both "The Devil Made Me Do It" and "Last Rites" feature Michael Chaves in the director's chair. He has also directed other films in the "Conjuring" universe, including "The Curse of La Llorona" and "The Nun II." The screenplay for "Last Rites" was written by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick, who shares a story credit with Wan.
Sources:
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.