A few weeks ago, directorCorin Hardyrevealed he had started work onThe Nun, although it was never clarified if shooting had actually began. Today we have word that the first cast member has come aboard, withDemian Bichirsigning on to star in this spin-off of New Line’s popularConjuringfranchise. We also have a few new photos fromCorin Hardy, who has been scouting locations in Romania, ahead of the start of principal photography sometime this summer.
The Hollywood Reporter reveals thatDemian Bichiris playing Father Burke, a priest who is sent by the church in Rome to investigate the mysterious murder of a nun. The title character was first introduced inThe Conjuring 2, although thisdemonic nunwas added to the movie at the last minute, just months before it was set to be released. Writer-directorJames Wan’s original cut featured a supernatural villain that was just a demon with massive horns, before the director had a vision to change this villain to the demonic nun that scared audiences worldwide.
James Wanultimately convinced New Line Cinema to let him undergo reshoots in March 2016, three months before the June 10 opening, when he filmed a new scene wherePatrick Wilson’s Ed Warren has painted a nun, instead of a demon. Another much more complex scene was filmed during these reshoots, whereVera Farmiga’s Lorraine Warren watched the nun’s shadow climb up the wall and align itself with the painting.Bonnie Aaronsportrayed the nun inThe Conjuring 2, with this scene also used for an epicConjuring 2 prankin Brazil last summer, just ahead of the movie’s release.The Conjuring 2would go on to make $320.2 million worldwide from just a $40 million budget.
Corin Hardycame aboard to direct thisConjuring spin-offin February, which will now be his next project since his long-gestating reboot ofThe Crowhas been delayed once again, to find a new studio home after breaking free from Relativity Media as it emerges from bankruptcy. New Line has set a June 20, 2025 release date for The Nun, putting it up against Sony’sHotel Transylvania 3and Universal’sSkyscraper. This project will be the secondConjuringspin-off, following the 2014 hitAnnabelle, which earned $256.8 million worldwide from just a $6.5 million budget, which spawned the upcoming follow-upAnnabelle: Creation, arriving in theaters August 11.
Corin Hardyis directing from a script byGary Dauberman, who wrote bothAnnabelleandAnnabelle: Creationfor New Line, andThe ConjuringandThe Conjuring 2directorJames Wan.Peter Safranis also producing alongsideJames Wan.Demian Bichirhas two major studio movies coming out in back-to-back weeks, with Universal’sLowridersarriving in theaters May 12, and 20th Century Fox’sAlien: Covenantarriving on May 19. Take a look at the new photosCorin Hardyposted on Twitter, along with a confirmation ofDemian Bichir’s casting, as we wait for more onThe Nunspin-off.
