Can lightning strike twice? That’s the question New Line/Warner Bros. will be asking in summer 2016, as the studios have set a The Conjuring 2 release date for June 10, 2016, dropping the horror sequel into familiar territory. The first film was a massive success at the box office (and with critics) when it opened last summer—a season traditionally dominated by VFX-heavy franchise pictures. The excellent horror pic raked in over $300 million at the worldwide box office, and Warner Bros. is off to a good start with the follow-up as they recently brought back James Wan to direct. More on the follow-up after the jump.
The Conjuring could almost be seen as the culmination of James Wan’s career thus far, as the Saw and Insidious filmmaker delivered an incredibly compelling horror drama that was a perfect blend of atmosphere, three-dimensional characters, and perfectly crafted scares. Wan subsequently opted to stretch his talents by taking over as the director of Furious 7, which opens in theaters this coming April, but he’ll be returning to the world of The Conjuring after that difficult shoot.
There are currently two other films slated for release on the June 10, 2016 weekend, Summit’s magician sequel Now You See Me 2 and Sony’s long-developing video game adaptation Uncharted, which has Seth Gordon attached to direct. I expect one (or both) of those films will move, though the month is already looking crowded with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2 on June 3rd, Finding Dory on June 17th, and Independence Day 2 on June 24th.
Story and casting details for The Conjuring 2 haven’t yet been disclosed, but the film is expected to revolve around another case for the supernatural investigatory team of Ed and Lorraine Warren, played by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga. The conclusion to The Conjuring hinted at another one of the duo’s famous cases, the Amityville house, but I imagine Wan and Co. will want to strike new territory with this follow-up. Regardless, this is a sequel that I’m very much looking forward to seeing.