Back when James Wan's The Conjuring was about to haunt our cinemas in 2013, could you have predicted that it would spawn its own cinematic universe? We couldn't. And yet with sequels, spin-offs and spin-off sequels ahoy, it just keeps growing. Now the Crooked Man from The Conjuring 2 is receiving the solo film treatment.
The character, brought to life from the nursery rhyme to terrorise a family in 1970s Enfield, until the main poltergeist threat and the Crooked Man's stalking the house are defeated by Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga.)
Now we're assuming that the Crooked Man's history will be explored in the same way that Annabelle and its sequel look at the past of the demonic doll. Wan has written the story, from which Mike Van Waes will work on a script. Then the producers (which include Wan and Peter Safran) will find a director and cast.
What is now called The Conjuring Universe (which sounds a little like a dodgy magic shop) is next offering up Annabelle: Creation, due on 11 August. After that will come The Nun, based on another Conjuring 2 demon, in production now and aiming at a July 2018 release.
Annabelle: Creation Trailer Offers The Scary Doll An Origin Story