HBO has officially confirmed that The Conjuring universe will continue on television, even after Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema concluded the main saga with The Conjuring: The Last Rites. For over a decade, Ed and Lorraine Warren, played by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga, have defined the franchise through films like The Conjuring (2013), The Conjuring 2 (2016), and The Devil Made Me Do It (2021).
Their story reached its conclusion on the big screen, but HBO is now preparing to expand the universe into a long-form series. The main question is what direction the show will take.
Fans have speculated whether the project will be an anthology of supernatural cases, a direct continuation, or even a reboot without Wilson and Farmiga. However, one possibility stands out that has already been introduced in the films: Judy Warren, the daughter of Ed and Lorraine.
As an adult in The Last Rites, Judy’s story was hinted at in Annabelle Comes Home (2019), where she directly confronted the cursed objects from her parents’ occult museum. With her husband, Tony Spera, Judy could represent the next chapter of paranormal investigation, making her the most natural candidate to carry the legacy into HBO’s upcoming series.
Could Judy Warren be the future of HBO’s The Conjuring series?
If HBO wants a clear path forward for The Conjuring series, Judy Warren is the most straightforward choice. She was raised in a house filled with paranormal activity, with haunted artifacts stored in her parents’ museum.
Unlike Ed and Lorraine, who chose this line of work, Judy had no say in being exposed to it from childhood. That distinction alone provides a foundation for stories that feel fresh yet still connect to the world audiences already know. Instead of rehashing her parents’ investigations, the show could focus on how someone shaped by that environment handles inheriting the responsibility.
Tony Spera, Judy’s husband, is another factor that strengthens the case. In real life, Tony manages the Warren Occult Museum and oversees the objects Ed and Lorraine collected. Incorporating that into the series would add authenticity and create a natural partnership dynamic.
Judy and Tony wouldn’t be presented as exact replacements for Ed and Lorraine. Instead, their approach could be more cautious and skeptical, influenced by the weight of expectations. This contrast could prevent the series from feeling like a mere copy of the films.
One option would be to base each season on one of the many unresolved Warren case files briefly mentioned in the films. HBO could expand a single case into a full storyline, using standalone episodes to explore smaller hauntings tied to the museum’s artifacts.
This structure would strike a balance between continuity and flexibility, offering audiences long arcs while also delivering memorable ghost stories along the way. Judy’s past encounters, like her connection to Annabelle, provide material to ground her character in trauma and resilience. At the same time, Tony’s role as a protector of the collection naturally allows the show to introduce new threats.
The greater significance is in the franchise’s identity. The Conjuring succeeded because Ed and Lorraine made audiences care about more than just the scares. Moving to Judy and Tony keeps that emotional connection alive without forcing Wilson and Farmiga to keep playing roles that have already been finished.
HBO, known for its serialized dramas, could present the show as both a continuation of a horror saga and a family story about living in the shadow of legends. This strategy respects the past while opening the door to new material, keeping the franchise active without relying on endless prequels.
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