Despite being marketed as a final blessing, The Conjuring: Last Rites was never meant to exorcise the franchise for good.

Producer Peter Safran tells Entertainment Weekly that the ninth entry in the long-running supernatural horror universe wasn’t a bait-and-switch — but it also wasn’t the end of the road.

“It was the end of that particular version of the story with Patrick [Wilson] and Vera [Farmiga] and that version of The Conjuring,” Safran explains, confirming that while Ed and Lorraine Warren’s reign may be over, the darkness surrounding them is far from finished.

According to Safran, Last Rites only proves how much life — and evil — the franchise still has left in it.

“I think that Last Rites shows that there is a lot of fuel left in the tank,” he says. And the box office agrees. The film went on to possess theaters worldwide, pulling in a staggering $494 million globally, making it one of the highest-grossing entries in the franchise.

Safran hints that the future of The Conjuring universe will stretch beyond theatrical releases and into television, opening new doors for hauntings yet unexplored.

“There’s so much more to it that we haven’t dug into,” Safran adds. “I think there’s really exciting ways to go with both film and television. People have been on this journey with us for over a decade now — and they want more.”

The Conjuring: Last Rites also introduced a new bloodline into the mythos, with Mia Tomlinson appearing as an adult Judy Warren, alongside Tony Spera as her future husband, Ben Hardy — characters Safran believes audiences have already embraced.

“People fall in love with Patrick and Vera, and Ed and Lorraine,” Safran continues. “But the introduction of Judy and Tony in a real way? The response was incredibly positive. People love those characters, and there’s a lot more to do there.”

And more is already coming.

HBO Max is currently developing a Conjuring television series with Nancy Won attached as showrunner, while Warner Bros. is reportedly moving forward with a Conjuring prequel film, with Rodrigue Huart in talks to direct.

The Warrens may have taken their final bow — but the evil they left behind isn’t finished haunting us yet.

Stay locked to GoreCulture for more updates from the shadows.