The Conjuring cinematic universe officially became the most successful horror franchise of all time after the release of the third film in the main series, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It. Kicking off in 2013, The Conjuring, directed by James Wan brought to life one of the case files of real-life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren and went on to generate multiple spin-offs and sequels. Though a fourth film has not been officially announced as of this writing, it seems inevitable that a new movie will get the green light given the success and ongoing popularity of the franchise.
Controversial figures, the Warrens have conducted extensive paranormal investigations into supposed true hauntings and accounts of demonic possessions. Several of their cases were even adapted as films before The Conjuring franchise came along. The three main Conjuring films dramatize the Warrens' most terrifying cases, but there are several other investigations by the husband and wife team that seem prime for a film adaptation.
The Union Cemetery claims to be one of the most haunted locations in the U.S. and home to the White Lady of Eaton, a spectral woman in white that Ed Warren allegedly caught on video. Given the multiple iconic horror characters that The Conjuring franchise has already created, a ghostly woman haunting a cemetery feels like a natural fit for the franchise.
A classic case of an American family experiencing strange phenomena in their home, including blood running from the faucets and strange animal sounds coming from seemingly nowhere; eventually, the Donovan Family called in the Warrens to help them discover what was tormenting them. Ed and Lorraine discovered that the daughter Patty had been communicating via ouija board with what she believed to be a young boy's spirit but was in fact a demonic entity that was eventually banished with an exorcism.
Another one of the Warrens' most famous cases, The Haunting in Connecticut, was already adapted as a film, albeit a heavily altered version of the supposed true events surrounding the Snedeker family. After moving into an old funeral home, the family started experiencing paranormal activity, and some of them even claimed to have been sexually assaulted by the entities haunting their home. Much like many of the Warrens' cases, the veracity of the story has been contested over the years. However, The Conjuring films have always been fictionalized versions of allegedly true events to begin with.
The story of the Lutz family and the strange activity in their Long Island home, including the now-iconic bleeding walls, is one of the most famous true-life hauntings of all time and has received several film adaptations. Though the extent of the Warrens' involvement in the case has been disputed, The Amityville Horror's story is one with which the Warrens have always been associated. Despite already touching upon Amityville in the opening of The Conjuring 2, an entire film revolving around Ed and Lorraine investigating the haunting in Long Island seems too good to pass up.
The Borley Church haunting involves a church in England that has a history of hauntings going back to the 14th century, including sightings of a spectral nun and monk. The Warrens also claimed to have heard ghostly chanting and organ music while investigating the site. Supposedly the inspiration for the Nun entity, first introduced in The Conjuring 2, a spooky church setting could be the perfect excuse for the demonic character to make another appearance.
One of Ed and Lorraine's strangest cases concerned Bill Ramsey, aka the Southend Werewolf. After ripping a fence post out of the ground, he started acting like a wild animal when he was just nine years old. This behavior resurfaced as an adult, and Ramsey attacked a stranger, a nurse and even a police officer. Doctors were unable to explain Ramsey's condition. Eventually, he sought help from the Warrens. An exorcism was performed, and witnesses claimed that Ramsey partially transformed into a werewolf during the ritual before the possessing entity was finally driven out.
One of the Warrens' most famous cases revolved around a Pennsylvania family who moved into a new house and immediately started experiencing paranormal activity. The hauntings went on for several years, and Jack Smurl even claimed to have been sexually assaulted by one of the spirits plaguing him and his family. Later, the Warrens were called in, and Lorraine declared that the house was haunted by four spirits, including a demon that used the other three spirits to attack the family. The Smurl haunting was adapted into a TV movie in 1991 called "The Haunted" and is notable for featuring Ed and Lorraine Warren as characters in the film. However, given the extreme nature and infamy of this haunting, it would be a perfect fit for an updated adaptation in The Conjuring franchise.
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