On September 5, 2025, it is said that The Conjuring Universe is coming to an end, at least as far as our journey with paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren is concerned. The Conjuring: Last Rites is supposedly the final entry for the horror series that began back in 2013 with James Wan’s The Conjuring, and has since led to eight additional entries in the form of sequels and spin-offs, making it one of the only successful cinematic universes to emerge in this modern era of Hollywood. With the continued presence of stars Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson, along with director Michael Chaves, producer James Wan, and newcomers to the cast, Mia Tomlinson and Ben Hardy, the time was taken between myself and a roundtable of other journalists to discuss what it means to have come this far in the series, grappling with the familiarity as well as what’s new this time around, and how to deal with this serving as a level of finality. The following features a reflection on the discussions with the various actors featured in the film.
[Note: Various quotes have been edited for clarity.]
The Demonologist and the Clairvoyant, Hollywood’s Happiest Couple
Having held onto these roles for over ten years now, it only makes sense for Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson to be pretty comfortable slipping back into the mindsets of these characters. Farmiga has even had the chance to speak with the real Lorraine Warren during the times of the earlier productions. That in mind, it only made sense upon finding out ‘Last Rites’ would be the final entry. “
As Wilson states, “You know, you don’t want to just keep going back to the well if you’re not doing anything different, right? You know, we didn’t set out to do this massive franchise, so each film was sort of built on the last one. And I think they knew that the third Conjuring wanted to be a departure and work as more of a murder mystery. That was almost a standalone in a strange way. So, for the next, the thought was, ‘How do we bring it back to the spirit of the first two?’ And so we knew that they wanted to bookend it with the most emotional movie that we could.”
In relation to both what Wilson was acknowledging, along with understanding how much these two work as a loving couple for the fans of this franchise, Farmiga added, “I felt that pressure. How do you come back and turn up that dial to 11? He and I have made casting out demons together romantic, so how do we bring even more love, you know, and even more goo, you know? Yeah, these are two people who finish exorcisms together, but they also finish each other’s sentences. How do we bring all those things that we know the fans are hankering for, which I think is the love? The audience has fallen in love with what Ed and Lorraine represent. You know, in the middle of all the chaos and the terror is this unwavering, tender connection between them.”
Speaking more to this relationship, as actors who have had to make it feel real between the two of them for such a long period of time when it comes to a cinematic film universe, there are things to be proud of as far as what they’ve developed and improved upon. As Farmiga states, “I think we figured out very early on that the special effects of this one weren’t going to be like the ghosts and the scares. It was going to be in the glances between him and me, and I just, I’m proud. I think it’s why there’s just something wildly sexy and romantic about saving each other from possession.”
As far as being this iconic horror couple, Wilson notes, “I think that’s really special. I think we’re very conscious of that. I think that’s, for lack of a better phrase, just cool. I mean, when I think of the great, you know, whether it was when Anthony Hopkins became one of the greatest villains in horror movie history, or, you know, when you start getting talking about those kind of memorable performances, and to feel like your union, your bond with your co-star, has become, at least that recognized because of the amount of people that have seen these films. I mean, I think that’s very special. So, I think we wear that with gratitude.”
To take on these roles, it certainly means understanding that the characters, particularly those who are part of a family, must be important beyond just the genre they are a part of. As Wilson states, “Most great horror movies have to do with some type of family drama. That’s the engine behind it. So that’s certainly something that I think probably latched us on very early on. You knew that the Warrens were going to have these cases, but it really was going to be okay. How does this affect their relationship? How does it affect them as people, as parents? So, and that’s something obviously, as actors that you want to dig into.”
Farmiga adds, “I always look for profound emotional architecture right beneath whatever drama is beneath the scares. Godzilla was, you know, focused on the relationship between the mother and daughter (Author’s Note: This answer came from my question, so I was, of course, thrilled for Farmiga to take it back to Godzilla). And here’s another mother-daughter. And there are all kinds of love. There’s friendship in this with Father Gordon. There’s love between the husband and wife, there’s, you know, parental love, and there’s emerging love with Judy and Tony. I get just drawn to those kinds of deep, unwavering connections.
Speaking of Judy and Tony, referring to the Warren’s in-film daughter Judy, who has grown up over the course of this series, and is now played by Mia Tomlinson, and Tony Spera, played by Ben Hardy, Judy’s boyfriend, looking to propose, there was some talk of what it was like having these two actors join in on the fun. Wilson stated, “They both did a fantastic job, and, you know, they kind of took the torch of characters that have been played, even though they’re at different ages, and because this was such a whole new set of problems, because now we’re looking at them as adults, right, young adults, I think working with them on set, I mean, you know this series, but if you haven’t done a lot of horror, and specifically these types of movies this is a whole different beast. So that was exciting. It was actually exciting to watch actors kind of discover, ah, this is what this movie is.”
Farmiga jumped in to add, “We have to work fast. I remember coaching Mia through the pacing and being like, ‘There’s not going to be time a lot of time for rehearsal.’ And so we’re going to work this out in real time, and watching her become stronger and stronger and more comfortable with that process and not so heady about it, and opening up her heart to the way we have to work on a Conjuring set, made it really interesting to watch her blossom as an actress.”
The Next of Kin and the Skeptic, The New Generation
As noted, The Conjuring: Last Rites, once again keeps the Warren’s daughter, Judy, in the mix. Now a young adult, she and her boyfriend, Tony, will have firsthand experience with the sorts of things the Warrens have been dealing with for years. Speaking to the idea of coming into this franchise, Hardy starts out by noting, “It’s such an honor and a privilege, really. Having been a fan of these movies, and then to get to come in and be a part of it. But what’s kind of like, especially sweet for me personally, in coming into this franchise, is that my character is sort of like the eyes for the audience members that haven’t seen any Conjuring movies before. So, I get to kind of experience becoming part of the franchise, much like Tony gets to experience becoming part of the family. So, there’s a bit of art imitating life in that aspect. So yeah, it’s kind of cool.
As far as the challenges that come into stepping into horror (a first for both actors), Tomlinson explains, “I think there are challenges around horror because it’s quite choreographed, like a lot of the scares as well, like knowing the pace. I mean, Vera famously, with her head turns, we see the timing of it. I often was like, ‘Go slower! Go slower!’ Because I was sort of too used to reacting as I normally would, which is to whip my head around and be terrified. But, yeah, fascinating. I learned so much. I mean, Vera and Patrick are the kings and queens of this horror world in this franchise, and they were so generous with me and Ben. We learned a huge amount working with them.”
As far as embodying this latest incarnation of Judy, who had previously been played by Sterling Jerins in The Conjuring 1 & 2 and Mckenna Grace in Annabelle Comes Home, Tominlson explained her general approach to this film’s take on the character. “Sterling and Grace were brilliant in their roles, in their own rights. And I took a lot, especially from Grace, in terms of Annabelle Comes Home. I really studied and enjoyed her, the way that she was very discreet and guarded in her approach to the character, which I think really resembled the real Judy.”
This led to more, as far as speaking with the real person. Tomlinson continued, “So, you know, when I went to meet Judy Warren, she was very open about the fact that she’s terrified of it. She lived with her grandmother. She didn’t grow up with her parents because they were always traveling. And I think that speaks volumes. She sort of gave me this mantra, which I took with me throughout the entire filming process: don’t look at it, don’t give it recognition. And that was the mantra that she said to herself about the artifacts room, about Annabelle, whom she is terrified of. And I’m really excited with this film, because we kind of see that play out.”
Naturally, going through the making of films like this would have one question their own personal beliefs. When discussing their views on the supernatural, each had interesting things to say. As Tomlinson explained, “Well, I think I was already like a believer. I feel like certain characters of people attract the supernatural. I think, like Lorraine, Judy is a huge empath. So, it’s difficult, because you kind of sort of want to repel it as well at the same time. I think the film obviously deals with the dark paranormal aspects, which is the part you don’t want to draw in. And you know Judy, the real Judy Warren, very kindly, when she came over to visit, she gave me a bracelet that she made. She makes these bracelets that then get donated to an animal charity, and they have pieces of Lorraine’s jewels on them from her clothing. It’s a bracelet that I have on, and it’s also in the diner scene. When Lorraine touches my hand, you see it. I wanted to put it in as a little gem and an honor to her. I just felt very protected by it, and that’s because I am a believer in ghosts and all things very scary.”
Hardy, meanwhile, had a slightly different perspective. “I’m not a believer, but I’m not a non-believer either. I’m kind of open-minded about it, but I suppose I am more cynical about it, and I think that’s reflected throughout this process. I, you know, I heard a lot more of the stories, you know, like Vera’s got stories about having bruises in the shape of the cross, or the crucifix, and so that kind of stuff is crazy and is mad. But I think for me personally, I think I need to experience it myself, not that I don’t believe these other people, but it’s just like for me to truly believe, I think I need to experience something myself, and who knows, maybe that’ll happen, but it hasn’t happened yet.”
Much like Ed and Lorraine, much of what matters between Judy and Tony is the fact that they love and care for each other, and the actors need to make that feel authentic. When speaking to that, Hardy noted, “I came on quite late into the project, so it was sort of a bit like slapdash. We had to sort this out ASAP. But me and Mia, we kind of got together and plotted out everything, you know, the entire Tony and Judy living together situation, and I think we just naturally get, we get on pretty well. I think Mia and I just sort of have quite a natural rapport. So, we just try to put that into the film, and do as much as we can to, yeah, to make that couple as lovable by the audience as possible.
Tomlinson adds, “I think there were parallels, because, you know, Judy in the film, she’s trying to come to terms with this power that she has, and she doesn’t share it with so much with her mum, because she knows that her mum is, you know, very concerned for her. Vera put it perfectly. She called herself the helicopter mum. And so, Judy leans a lot on Tony to provide that support and that safety. And I think that, you know, for me as a newer actor coming into this, you know, this is my first massive role in a Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema film, you know. So, Ben, for me, in many ways, was that person to lean on. And, you know, I was really lucky.”
Stay tuned for more in the next post with director Michael Chaves and producer James Wan.
The Conjuring: Last Rites opens in theaters and IMAX on September 5, 2025.
