James Wan, producer and original creator of The Conjuring franchise, is pushing for better rights deals after the recent release of The Conjuring: Last Rites. According to Puck News’ Matt Belloni, Wan is considering leaving the franchise and its planned spin-offs if Warner Bros. does not offer him a larger financial stake. Wan directed only the first two films but has served as a producer and key creative figure on subsequent movies, including the Annabelle trilogy, both installments of The Nun, and The Curse of La Llorona, a spin-off of a spin-off.
Ongoing Success Spurs Warner Bros. Plans for Expansion
Although Last Rites was promoted as the final chapter for Ed and Lorraine Warren’s story, the film is currently performing well at the box office. Warner Bros. is reportedly already developing a prequel and considering other spin-offs focused on various supernatural elements introduced in the original films. The studio’s contract requires that Wan’s production company, Atomic Monster, receive producer credit on all future Conjuring projects, including an upcoming television series. Despite this, Wan’s future involvement remains uncertain if the current dispute remains unresolved.
Negotiations Between Atomic Monster and Warner Bros. Intensify
Atomic Monster’s representative Bryan Lourd has made multiple trips to Warner Bros. to negotiate on Wan’s behalf, initially demanding a 50% share of profits on upcoming films. After some negotiating, the offer was adjusted to 25% for the immediate next movie and 50% for subsequent entries. However, Warner Bros. has been hesitant to meet these demands, which has led Wan to threaten leaving the franchise altogether.
Wan’s Influence on the Franchise
There is debate over how much Wan’s departure would impact the series. Warner Bros. sources suggest his participation has lessened recently, with Atomic Monster’s Michael Clear and Natalia Safran, wife of DC Studio co-CEO Peter Safran, assuming more responsibilities. Conversely, Puck’s reporting cites several sources outside of Warner Bros. who consider Wan still vital to the creative direction, especially in shaping the mythology and crafting key scare sequences that define the films.
The Future of The Conjuring Without Wan
Regardless of whether Wan remains, his exit would mark a significant turning point for the franchise. Jacob Oller of The A.V. Club commented on Last Rites, stating,
“The Conjuring: Last Rites solidifies The Conjuring franchise as the Fast & Furious of horror movies: A conservative, Christian, family-oriented, spin-off and sequel-laden series of adventures that lose the plot and reinvest in the audience’s affection for its familiar beats and cornball leads,”
suggesting that new creative directions might benefit both Wan and the franchise.
Given Warner Bros.’ ongoing plans to expand the universe with more sequels and spin-offs, the resolution of the James Wan Conjuring rights dispute will likely shape the future of one of horror cinema’s most profitable properties.
