As we suspected after New Line Cinema/Warner Bros. pushed back THE CONJURING 2’s release from October 23, 2015 to an undisclosed 2016 date, the move was made in order to accommodate director James Wan, who has just been officially announced as the helmer of the much-anticipated sequel. The release date shift will give Wan all the time he needs next spring to promote FAST AND FURIOUS 7, which comes out in April; THE CONJURING 2 will then begin shooting in the summer.
“It was during the editing of Fast & Furious 7 that my brain started sparking ideas for The Conjuring sequel,” Wan said. “Taking a break from horror has allowed me to be creatively rejuvenated. I’m excited to tell the story of the next case-file of Ed & Lorraine Warren and expand on this world we’ve created.”
Wan also closed a first look producing deal with New Line, indicating the studio wants to stay in the Wan business after the successes of THE CONJURING ($318 million worldwide) and ANNABELLE ($166 million worldwide and counting).