Helmer James Wan returns for "The Conjuring" hit horror sequel

PanARMENIAN.Net - "The Conjuring" sequel will be the work of James Wan once again. New Line Cinema has extended its deal with the Australian director who turned the first horror flick into a blockbuster with $320 million in worldwide box office on a $20 million budget, AceShowbiz reported.

The deal came on the heels of New Line Cinema shifting the release date of "The Conjuring 2: The Enfield Poltergeist" from October 23, 2015 to 2016. Wan will have the time to promote "Fast and Furious 7" before he begins shooting the horror sequel next summer. Since Universal has not made any final decision whether Wan would be involved in future "Fast and Furious" installments, the studio has given Wan the go to direct "The Conjuring 2".

According to Deadline, Wan also signed a first-look producing deal with the studio. Wan will "develop and produce modest budget films in the science fiction, horror, and comedy genres through his Atomic Monster production banner." New Line president/COO Toby Emmerich said, "We had a great experience with James on 'The Conjuring', and we give him a lot of credit for that movie working so well."

"He worked on the screenplay and came to the table with very inventive things that were not in the script and cast it fantastically well. Add to that his work in producing Annabelle, and he is one of the masters of the genre and we're happy to have him. You go through the list of possible directors of The Conjuring sequel, and his is the name you stop at, which is why we tried so hard to make this work."

Wan himself has filled his head with ideas about "The Conjuring" sequel. "It was during the editing of 'Fast & Furious 7' that my brain started sparking ideas for 'The Conjuring' sequel," he said. "Taking a break from horror has allowed me to be creatively rejuvenated. I'm excited to tell the story of the next case-file of Ed & Lorraine Warren and expand on this world we've created."