The Nun 2 Release Date, Cast, Trailer, Plot And More Details
The "Conjuring" Universe is a pretty scary place — and it's getting bigger all the time. Annabelle the demon-possessed doll got her own solo film in 2014, followed by two additional "Annabelle" features. We also witnessed the horrifying tale of the La Llorona, but perhaps the most significant "Conjuring" spinoff is "The Nun," a prequel that features the freakiest demon in Ed and Lorraine Warren's rogues gallery. And if you thought the titular demon was scary before, that's nothing compared to what we see from her in "The Nun."
Released in 2018, "The Nun" chronicles the history of the demon Valak, first introduced in "The Conjuring 2." Thanks to its eerie atmosphere and terrifying jump scares, "The Nun" became the highest-grossing entry in the entire franchise, meaning a sequel was inevitable. And now, Valak will take her rightful place alongside Annabelle as a big-deal "Conjuring" baddie getting their own series.
News of a "Nun" sequel first circulated in 2019, when producer Peter Safran revealed that he had a story in mind. Ever since then, we've been on pins and needles waiting for answers concerning the next installment of The Conjuring Universe. Now that the project has spent several years in production, and is almost upon us, here's everything you need to know about "The Nun 2."
When will The Nun 2 be released?
After Warner Bros. and Discovery merged into a single corporate entity — now called Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. — the company altered many of its existing and upcoming properties under the leadership of CEO David Zaslav. Perhaps most notoriously, Warner Bros. Discovery shelved a completed "Batgirl" film entirely.
Amidst this and plenty of other changes both big and small, on August 24, 2022, Warner Bros. announced some updates to its slate of upcoming film releases. While its most notable schedule changes concerned tentpole superhero properties, that announcement also included the first mention of a release date for "The Nun 2." As it turns out, Warner Bros. Discovery is now planning to premiere "The Nun 2" on September 8, 2023, almost five years after the release of the first film, which came out on September 7, 2018.
While less than five years will have passed in the film's timeline (more on that in a minute), here in the real world, it's been a while since a "Nun" solo feature was released, though three other Conjuring Universe films have come out since then, 2021's "The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It" being the most recent. But September 2023 isn't too far away, so let's pray that nothing hinders the arrival of "The Nun 2."
What is the plot of The Nun 2?
Taking place four years after the first film, "The Nun 2" is set in 1950s France, with the demon Valak returning for more terror. As the official plot synopsis puts it, "A priest is murdered. An evil is spreading." As a result, Sister Irene — our hero from the first movie — is returning for duty. After battling the evil spirit in the original flick, she's the savvy demonologist this time around — and the only one who's seen this kind of carnage before.
Sadly for poor Frenchie — who wound up possessed in the original movie — the events of the sequel are directly tied to his fate. As producer James Wan explained to Entertainment Weekly, "Frenchie has moved on from the first film and he is at a Catholic school as a groundskeeper-handyman. But we saw that at the end of the first movie that the evil was still with him. It's slowly percolating, coming back to the forefront. He realizes that there's only one person that can really help him, and he reaches out to Taissa Farmiga's character. I love this platonic friendship that the two of them have. She cares very much for him, and she wants to do everything she can to help him. At the same time, she has to confront this evil and fight it again."
Additionally, the film's trailer promises that those who watch "The Nun 2" will finally "discover the truth behind the greatest evil in The Conjuring Universe." Admittedly, there's a lot we still don't know about the titular demon, even after its defeat in "The Conjuring 2." So hopefully we'll get some sinister answers to some horrific questions.
Who is starring in The Nun 2?
"The Nun 2" is bringing back two key actors from the first film — Taissa Farmiga and Bonnie Aarons. Farmiga, who's perhaps most famous for starring in multiple seasons of "American Horror Story," played the heroic Sister Irene in the original movie. As for Aarons — who's starred in everything from "Mulholland Drive" to "Silver Linings Playbook" — she'll be reprising the part of the titular Nun herself, aka the demon Valak.
Of course, Sister Irene won't be the only one trying to stop Valak's reign of evil. Farmiga will be joined by Storm Reid as another brave nun, hoping to defeat the demon. Reid is an up-and-coming star who's joined a number of notable projects in recent years, including "The Invisible Man," "Euphoria," and "The Last of Us." Speaking with Collider, Reid shared her excitement for the upcoming horror flick, saying, "The character I play is incredible. I think she really adds some funkiness to the story and I love that. It is scary, but there are so many character arcs in the film and so many emotions and journeys that the characters have to go through, I think it works perfectly, [and is] something that is going to turn into a thing that people really love to watch."
Rounding out the cast, we have Anna Popplewell from the "Chronicles of Narnia" series playing a widowed mother, and she'll be joined by Katelyn Rose Downey of "The Princess" and Jonas Bloquet, who played Frenchie in the first film ... a character who was possessed by Valak at the end of the movie.
Who is writing and directing The Nun 2?
The first "Nun" was directed by Corin Hardy, but the English filmmaker won't be returning for the sequel. Instead, directing duties have gone to Michael Chaves, who's well-versed with the ins and outs of "The Conjuring" universe. Before helming "The Nun 2," Chaves sat in the director's chair for both "The Curse of La Llorona" and "The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It," which goes to show that producers James Wan and Peter Safran have great faith in his ability to bring the scares.
In an interview with ScreenRant, Chaves spoke highly of his working relationship with Wan. "Honestly, I owe my career to James Wan," Chaves said. "I've been a fan of his, just like a lot of you guys. To have worked with him on 'La Llorona' was honestly one of the best and greatest thrills."
Of course, Chaves won't be the only uber-talented person working behind the scenes. The script for "The Nun 2" is coming from the delightfully twisted mind of Akela Cooper (with revisions coming from Ian Goldberg and Richard Naing). Another filmmaker who's worked closely with James Wan, Cooper penned two of the wildest horror films in recent memory — the absolutely bonkers "Malignant" and the blockbuster hit "M3GAN." Speaking with Dread Central about some of her big career highlights, Cooper talked about how she was especially happy she was able to create a character for Storm Reid to play, saying, "Bringing more Black people into 'The Conjuring' Universe was [a] proud moment."
Who is producing The Nun 2?
Of all the horror filmmakers in the 21st century, no one is more notable than James Wan. The co-creator of the original "Saw" franchise as well as the "Insidious" series, Wan's biggest break was arguably "The Conjuring" universe. Although he directed only the first two "Conjuring" films, Wan has produced almost all of the previous installments in the franchise, received story credit for many of them, and continues to guide the highest-grossing horror franchise as one of its main creative voices.
Given his recent directorial outings with DC's "Aquaman" series and his original horror film "Malignant," it doesn't seem likely that he'll return to direct another "The Conjuring" picture, but that doesn't mean that he's said goodbye to the Warrens just yet. As per usual, Wan returns as an executive producer for "The Nun 2," proving that his influence over future projects remains intact.
Though he hasn't directed one in a while (it would be awesome if he returned for "The Conjuring: Last Rites"), it's nice to know that he still cares about this franchise. After all, what is "The Conjuring" without James Wan? He'll also be producing alongside Peter Safran. These days, Safran is best known for running the DCU with James Gunn, but Safran has been involved with the "Conjuring" franchise since day one, so we're sure he'll work the same witchy magic here.
Is there a trailer for The Nun 2?
While attendees at 2023's CinemaCon in April got to see the horrors in store for "Conjuring" fans with a "The Nun 2" sneak peek – Ben Pearson of /Film even provided a nice recap of the footage — the first official trailer for the horror flick dropped on July 6, 2023. Only two months before the film's release date, the trailer opens with Katelyn Rose Downe's Sophie as she watches Jonas Bloquet's Maurice "Frenchie" Theriault as he succumbs to Valak's inner torments.
While Frenchie struggles to keep his cool, Sophie and Sister Irene — now a nun herself — notice strange hauntings around the abbey, most of which concern the titular monster. From there, the Nun begins to haunt the young girls in the convent, terrifying them through jump scares. "This thing, it's come back for me," Sister Irene says in the trailer. "It wants [its] power back." As the trailer draws near the end, we watch as Irene approaches a wall of magazines, the pages flapping in the wind.
Intercut with some quick action shots (like our heroine running into a cloud of smoke and the Nun levitating one of its victims), the pages stop on images that, when stacked together, look just like the demon. It's no wonder then that the trailer ends with Irene glancing away for a moment, only to be strangled by Valak upon looking back. If this brief preview is an indication, "The Nun 2" might just be even scarier than the first.
What is The Nun 2 rated?
When it comes to delivering the thrills and chills, "The Conjuring" franchise ain't playing. These are some of the scariest movies that Hollywood has to offer, and their ratings definitely reflect that. Every previous installment in the series has received an R — a rating that might not ward off evil spirits but will certainly keep any scaredy cats at bay. However, will "The Nun 2" live up to the franchise's horrific hype? Well, if you were hoping for an R rating, don't be afraid because that's exactly what you're going to get. The upcoming tale of spiritual spookiness will indeed be rated R for "violent content and some terror," so brace yourselves for the otherworldly scares that are coming your way.
When does The Nun 2 take place?
As stated before, "The Nun 2" takes place only four years after the first film, which was set in 1952. In 1956, the demon Valak has returned to inflict pain, fear, and dread everywhere it skulks. After all, four years is a long time for a demon not to do its usual haunting thing. For those keeping track, this means that both "Nun" movies occur somewhere between the events of the beginning of "Annabelle: Creation," which partially takes place in 1943 and 1955, and the rest of the horror franchise, which generally covers the 1970s and early '80s.
As one of the earliest stories in this horror universe, "The Nun" provides an interesting backdrop to other installments. Additionally, "The Conjuring" reveals that Frenchie, eventually driven mad by Valak, later tries to kill his wife, and instead tragically kills himself. Thankfully, "The Nun 2" takes place quite a bit before the 1970s, and may give us more insight into his internal torment. Of course, like most other "Conjuring" demons that get their own solo outing, Valak is later defeated by the Warrens. Though, the demonic Nun was vanquished once before ...
Where was The Nun 2 filmed?
The first chapter in "The Nun" saga took place in Romania, shooting on location in Bucharest back in 2017. Additionally, the horror feature spent some time in Transylvania – but don't worry, there were no vampire sightings. (Though director Corin Hardy had a priest bless the set, just in case.)
This time around, Valak's story is helmed by director Michael Chaves, who moved the production from Romania to France as Sister Irene, Frenchie, and the demon travel westward. Production for "The Nun 2" began in October 2022 and wrapped just before the new year, with everything shot on location in France. Of course, that's not exactly surprising since the first film was also shot on location, but given the behind-the-scenes shake-up heading into the second installment, the new director could have opted to film on a studio soundstage instead.
Unfortunately, we don't know much about the exact locations where "The Nun 2" production took place, and we likely won't before the film is released this fall. But from what we can tell from the trailer, most of the film looks to take place within the walls of an abbey or convent.
How does The Nun 2 connect to the first film?
Given the title, it seems sort of obvious that "The Nun 2" is a direct sequel to the first film, but how much it connects to the original was unknown until very recently. After all, although each installment of "The Conjuring" series features the same main two characters, every "Annabelle" solo film focuses on a different cast. Rather than following faithful humans, each new installment of the creepy doll's terrors centers around the cursed object rather than its owners. It's possible that "The Nun" could have followed suit.
Instead, "The Nun 2" seems to pursue a more traditional sequel format, with many cast members returning for the second film. "The Nun 2" continues the story in the years following Sister Irene and Frenchie's previous adventure. At the end of "The Nun," Sister Irene used the literal Blood of Christ to defeat and depower the demon, who, unbeknownst to everyone involved, escaped by secretly possessing Frenchie in the final act. While this ultimately leads to a confrontation between Frenchie and the Warrens in "The Conjuring," "The Nun 2" addresses what Valak is up to in the interim — and what happens to poor Sister Irene.
Who is the demon Valak?
First appearing in "The Conjuring 2," the demonic Nun known as Valak is a fallen angel who was once summoned through a rift in Romania during the Dark Ages. Recognizing the threat, Catholic knights sealed Valak beneath Saint Cartha's monastery with the Blood of Christ, keeping the demon at bay for hundreds of years. But that all changed during World War II when the abbey was bombed and the seal broken, releasing this evil back into the world. It's then that Valak kills all the nuns in the abbey, and eventually sets its sights on Sister Irene.
Though we don't know what will happen in "The Nun 2," we know that the titular demon survives through Frenchie, using him to inflict Lorraine Warren with a vision of her husband Ed's death. From there, Valak is the catalyst for the events of the first "Conjuring" and "The Conjuring 2," where it reveals itself physically, once again taking the form of the trademark nun.
In traditional demonology, Valak (usually spelled Valac) is described in a number of grimoires, including "The Lesser Key of Solomon." With the power to control all sorts of serpents, Valac is known as a president of demons, with somewhere between 30-38 legions under his control (it depends on which text you consult). Regardless, it's clear that this demon has serious power, and The Conjuring universe portrays its monster well.
Will the Warrens be featured in The Nun 2?
The main heroes of "The Conjuring" franchise, Ed and Lorraine Warren, are demonologists employed by the Catholic Church who use their skill sets to cast out demons. Based on the real-life paranormal investigators, Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga's fictitious versions of the Warrens are considered two of the greatest horror protagonists on the big screen. So it's no wonder that many would hope to see them return, especially since the actors clearly love playing them on screen.
While the Warrens appeared briefly in "The Nun," connecting the ending to the first "Conjuring," there's been no confirmation that they'll return for the second installment. Previously appearing in all three "The Conjuring" films and "Annabelle Comes Home," not to mention cameos in other franchise installments, the Warrens are the most frequently recurring characters in "The Conjuring" universe — besides the creepy doll, of course.
While it's unlikely that they'll show up in "The Nun 2" given the time period, it's entirely possible that the film could flash-forward once more, revealing something new about Valak's appearance in "The Conjuring 2." Given that the first film reused a scene from the first installment, the sequel could easily do the same.
Will The Nun 2 address Lorraine's cursed vision?
From the very first "Conjuring" movie, Lorraine Warren has wrestled with a vision of her husband's death given to her by a demon during an exorcism. In "The Conjuring 2," it's revealed that Valak is the demon responsible, and the creature soon haunts the Warrens and the Hodgson family. Besides the demon's desire for death and destruction, it's unclear as to why exactly it has a specific interest in Ed and Lorraine, but maybe "The Nun 2" will provide some further answers.
It makes sense why the demon would return to stalk Sister Irene in the sequel. She's the one who got away, and, having already taken hold of Frenchie, the demon would naturally seek revenge on the nun who once defeated it. Following that thread, it's possible that Ed and Lorraine's role in the creature's exorcism (seen in "The Conjuring") made them persons of interest to the demon. Hopefully, the sequel will address Valak's dark vision of Ed's future, even if we know that Lorraine defeats the demon and saves her husband in the end.
How will this impact The Conjuring universe going forward?
With every new chapter of "The Conjuring," we learn some twisted truths about the world. Whether they're dark family secrets, hidden sins, or the existence of otherworldly beings, each installment has us coming back for more. After three "Conjuring" and "Annabelle" movies, "The Nun," and "The Curse of La Llorona" (which may or may not even be part of the universe), you'd think that "The Nun 2" wouldn't have much more to offer, but we're hopeful that it'll lead to fresh insights.
Previous installments — including "Annabelle: Creation," which teased Valak's first solo film — have been used to introduce the next spin-off or sequel. "Annabelle Comes Home" did the same for "The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It." Even Tony Amendola's Father Perez from the first "Annabelle" reappeared in "The Curse of La Llorona." With that in mind, it's entirely possible that "The Nun 2" could have a similar impact on the forthcoming "The Conjuring: Last Rites."
Of course, besides recurring plot points, there will likely be other connections between the films by the time the credits roll. More than anything, it may give us more insight as to the true threat of Valak, and could even tease a possible return in the future.
What order should you watch The Conjuring films in?
Starting with 2013's "The Conjuring," James Wan's universe of horror kickstarted a franchise that has gone strong since the very beginning. A spin-off "Annabelle" was released the following year and as each series spawned its own trilogies, other spin-offs were added to fill in the gaps. But, given how many movies there are, in what order should you watch "The Conjuring" films?
If release order is more your style, consider starting with "The Conjuring," "Annabelle," "The Conjuring 2," and "Annabelle: Creation" before moving on to "The Nun." Then, continue with "The Curse of La Llorona" and "Annabelle Comes Come" before ending with 2021's "The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It" and 2023's "The Nun 2."
However, if you'd rather watch chronologically, you should start with "The Nun" and "Annabelle: Creation" (the latter of which jumps across a few decades) before watching "The Nun 2." From there, continue with "Annabelle," "The Conjuring," and "Annabelle Comes Home." This will prepare you for the final few movies on the timeline (so far), which consist of "The Curse of La Llorona," "The Conjuring 2," and "The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It."
Admittedly, "The Curse of La Llorona" doesn't add much to "The Conjuring" mythos (not unlike "Halloween III: Season of the Witch" for the "Halloween" franchise), but for the sake of the complete franchise narrative, it's worth the watch.
What other Conjuring spin-offs are in development?
For a long time, it looked as if "The Conjuring" franchise was rife with spin-off potential. Not only did Valak the demon nun find new life outside of "The Conjuring 2," but the possessed doll Anabelle inspired three separate features, and the Crooked Man was long rumored to follow. Unfortunately, producer James Wan confirmed in 2022 that "The Crooked Man" is no longer happening. Though we don't know why, it's certainly not because other spin-off attempts have done poorly (2018's "The Nun" is currently the highest-grossing installment of the franchise).
So far, no future spin-offs have been announced to be in development. Only "The Conjuring: Last Rites" is confirmed to be going forward, meaning that the cinematic universe of "The Conjuring" could very well end with its upcoming 10th installment. However, that seems unlikely given the long-time success of the franchise thus far. Whatever happens to the Warrens and their demons next may be a mystery, but there's no denying the staying power of "The Conjuring." Here's hoping they find another monster, ghost, or demon to explore next.