Meet the new Ed and Lorraine Warren in The Conjuring: First Communion
The Conjuring: First Communion rolls back the clock, locking in Garrett Wareing as young Ed Warren and Amanda Fix as young Lorraine Warren for a dive into the couple’s early years.
Right, so there’s a bit of a shake-up coming to The Conjuring Universe. We’re headed back in time, because the new film – First Communion – is officially underway, and it’s casting younger versions of our favourite spook-chasers, Ed and Lorraine Warren. Honestly, considering the franchise is now so sprawling it practically needs a family tree and a tour guide, the idea of rewinding isn’t the weirdest turn it could’ve taken. But the fact that they’re planting entirely new actors into these incredibly familiar roles? That’s a bold move, especially for a series where continuity obsessives like to nitpick every haunted cupboard door.
Meet Your New Young Warrens
Let’s start with the casting: Garrett Wareing is stepping in as young Ed Warren. If you recognise the name, you probably caught him in The Long Walk or binge-watched Manifest when it seemed like that show lasted longer than most marriages. Amanda Fix is picking up the Lorraine Warren mantle; she’s had turns in Orphan Black: Echoes and the cheery-sounding Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma. That’s the sort of film title that would scare your nan, but at least she’s got horror experience already.
This isn’t the first time we’ve seen young iterations of the Warrens either – The Conjuring: Last Rites introduced them in another guise. For those tracking these things, that was Orion Smith and Madison Lawlor. If you’re keeping a chart, maybe add a shuffling column called ‘Warrens: The Youth Rotation’.
A Fresh Set of Eyes Behind the Camera
Production is up and running as of now. Rodrigue Huart is directing First Communion, based on a script by Richard Naning and Ian Goldberg. We’re still totally in the dark about the actual plot – Warner Bros. is being typically squirrelly about storyline details. Frankly, the only thing we know for sure is that we’re going full prequel, so forget the veteran ghostbusters: it’s all about young Ed and Lorraine’s early run-ins with the things that go bump in the night.
What’s particularly odd is there’s no word yet on whether Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga will turn up as the older, more familiar Warrens. You’d think for continuity’s sake, they’d at least pop in for a scene or two, but no confirmation, no denial – just radio silence. It’s possible they’re keeping cameos a surprise, or maybe the studio thinks it’s time for a clean break.
Timeline: Conjuring Universe Expansion
- 2013: The Conjuring kicks things off, quickly spawning Annabelle, The Nun, The Curse of La Llorona, and sequels galore.
- 2026: Cameras roll on The Conjuring: First Communion.
- 9 April 2027: The Revenge of La Llorona hits cinemas, keeping the shared universe rolling right along.
- 10 September 2027: First Communion scheduled to haunt UK cinemas (and presumably cause a few sleep-starved evenings in the process).
Will Fans Buy In?
It’ll be interesting to see if fans accept Wareing and Fix in these fairly legendary horror boots. If they land with audiences, they could very well become the centre of more stories about the Warrens’ early days in the supernatural trenches. Or, and I’m just speculating here, they could go the way of previous young Warrens and get swapped again in three years when another reboot comes knocking.
In the meantime, filming’s underway, plot details are locked in a box somewhere at Warner Bros., and the biggest question is whether First Communion can actually scare up enough excitement in a universe already packed with haunted dolls and nuns with dubious habits.
‘Garrett Wareing & Amanda Fix have been cast as Ed & Lorraine Warren in the “CONJURING” prequel movie. In theatres on September 10, 2027.’