Michael Chaves is at the helm for what is being called the final chapter in the main Conjuring series, "The Conjuring: Last Rites," slated to release in theaters on September 5, 2025. Having directed "The Curse of La Llorona," "The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It," and "The Nun II," Chaves is no stranger to the horror genre or the Conjuring Universe. With "Last Rites," he will have directed more Conjuring movies than James Wan, the franchise creator.

"The Conjuring: Last Rites" draws inspiration from the real-life Smurl Family haunting. This case sees the return of Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga, who are reprising their roles as paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. This time around, the haunting gets personal as Ed and Lorraine are joined by Mia Tomlinson and Ben Hardy, who play their daughter Judy Warren and her boyfriend, Tony Spera.

Chaves worked closely with the Smurl sisters during the development, pre-production, and production of the film to ensure accuracy. The Smurl family had issues with a previous movie about their experiences, feeling it wasn't true to their story, and Chaves wanted to avoid repeating those mistakes.

Set in 1986, the film places the Warrens in one of their most intimate battles yet, with a demon holding a personal vendetta against them. According to Farmiga, this demon is vengeful and bloodthirsty and "will not rest until it gets what it wants," which is deeply personal to Ed and Lorraine. Wilson notes that the darker the stories go, the more light they can find, with moments of levity, humor, and chemistry creating a safe space for the audience.

Chaves found scare inspiration from the '80s, balancing the DNA of the '70s horror movies that influenced the first film with the flavor of the '80s. He also noted that there is more blood in this movie compared to previous Conjuring movies.

While "Last Rites" is being touted as the final film in the main series, Chaves has hinted at the possibility of future spinoffs, noting the success of previous spinoffs in the Conjuring Universe. James Wan has called the ending a "bittersweet farewell" but also left the door open for future possibilities. Patrick Wilson has acknowledged that this is the end of their journey "right now" and "the rightful way to end this series that we created right now".