James Wan picks La Llorona director to helm The Conjuring 3

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

New Line Cinema's Conjuring Universe is an interesting franchise. I think THE CONJURING is one of the best horror films to come out in the last ten years, and while I didn't like THE CONJURING 2 quite as much, it was a decent sequel that still maintained the feeling that this was something special. They have an air of prestige about them. The spin-offs, they're B-movie boofests of varying quality. ANNABELLE was terrible and I found THE NUN to be disappointing, but ANNABELLE: CREATION was surprisingly good.

To me, it feels like THE CONJURING movies are the ones they put effort and care into, and the others are just things they knock out to fill the time between CONJURINGs. If James Wan were coming back to direct THE CONJURING 3, I'd feel confident that it was going to be on the level of its predecessors – but Wan isn't going to direct the third film, so I'm left hoping that it can still reach the level of the first two movies and not dip down to the level of the spin-offs.

New Line Cinema and Wan's company Atomic Monster have found the director they trust to replace Wan at the helm of THE CONJURING 3. The companies have announced that the film is going to be directed by Michael Chaves, who made his feature directorial debut with their upcoming release THE CURSE OF LA LLORONA (which is not part of the Conjuring Universe).

Wan will still be closely involved with the project as a producer, and it's said he'll be acting "as a godfather" on it. He discussed the hiring of Chaves in an official statement, and also confirmed that Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga will be back to star in THE CONJURING 3 as paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren.

While working closely with Chaves on The Curse of La Llorona, I got to know him as a filmmaker. Chaves’ ability to bring emotion to a story, and his understanding of mood and scares, make him a perfect fit to direct the next Conjuring film. I'm excited to be back as producer and continue with Vera and Patrick on the next supernatural adventure of the Warrens."

Chaves added, 

I am a huge fan of the Conjuring films. The movies are the rare combination that delivers both tremendous heart and awesome scares. It is both a total thrill and absolute honor to be working with James and the gang at New Line again."

I hope Chaves is up for the challenge, because he's going to be facing greater scrutiny as the director of a CONJURING movie than he would as the director of anything else in the Conjuring Universe.

THE CONJURING 2 co-writer David Leslie Johnson is currently at work writing the screenplay for THE CONJURING 3.

We'll get to see what Chaves has done with THE CURSE OF LA LLORONA when that film is released on April 19, 2019.