Spooky season is drawing closer, but overall so far the 2025 movie calendar has been kind to those who love the horror genre. Fans of The Conjuring movies are undoubtedly hoping that The Conjuring: Last Rites — the conclusion to Ed and Lorraine Warren’s story — will be the year's next hit horror, and the critics are here to weigh in ahead of the film’s September 5 release to theaters. So what are they saying?

Set five years after The Devil Made Me Do It, the Warrens (Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga) are eyeing retirement when they meet the Smurl family, who have come into possession of a mirror whose evil has ties to the Warrens’ daughter Judy (Mia Tomlinson). In CinemaBlend’s review of The Conjuring: Last Rites, Eric Eisenberg says the movie brings the series to a satisfying conclusion, but its return to the haunted house narrative doesn’t pack the same punch as previous movies. He rates it 3.5 out of 5 stars, writing:

Meagan Navarro of Bloody Disgusting also gives the movie 3.5 out of 5 skulls, saying Last Rites includes a few standout moments of blood-curdling dread while also playing up the sentimentality audiences have developed for the Warrens. The critic says:

Matt Zoller Seitz of RogerEbert.com gives it 3 stars out of 4, writing that Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson’s performances have always been part of what makes The Conjuring one of the best horror movie franchises, and the same is true for their final chapter. Of the movie overall, Seitz says:

Travis Hopson of Punch Drunk Critic isn’t fully on board with the emotional family aspect overshadowing the scares. However, characters from the past movies showing up does remind fans of the impact this franchise has had on the horror genre for so long. Hopson gives the film 2.5 out of 5 stars and says:

Frank Scheck of THR says it’s not just the floorboards that are creaky in the ninth movie on The Conjuring’s timeline. Last Rites offers “stale scares” in director Michael Chaves’ fourth movie in the franchise, which feels like it’s suffering from fatigue. Scheck continues:

Overall, critics seem to be a bit “meh” on the newest offering in The Conjuring franchise, as it’s accumulated just 57% on Rotten Tomatoes from 74 critics. If you’ve been loyal to the Warrens’ story since 2013, however, it’s probably worth checking out Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson’s swan song. The Conjuring: Last Rites hits theaters on Friday, September 5.

Using CGI to make an actor appear younger than they are has become a not uncommon practice in modern cinema. It’s certainly come a long way in the decades that it’s been in use, and while it’s difficult to argue that it doesn’t still have some problems, it does the job remarkably well. This is likely why Michael Chaves, director of The Conjuring: Last Rites, fully assumed he would be using the technology in the new film.

The opening of the newest and final, Conjuring film includes a flashback sequence that sees protagonists Ed and Lorainne Warren, played in the rest of the franchise by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga, as much younger people than we’ve ever seen them. Chaves tells EW that when he originally conceived of the sequence, he knew exactly how he wanted to portray the younger characters, saying:

Not so long ago, the need to have younger versions of your characters in a film meant casting younger actors. There really was no other option. Today, using CGI to de-age an actor is a real choice, and it’s one that a lot of movies go with. While finding a young actor who is believable as a younger version of a character is certainly possible, using CGI can technically create a more realistic version of the character. It also allows the stars of the movie to be on screen more.

It’s not surprising that the film planned to use de-aging to make Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga look younger, but when The Conjuring: Last Rites opens this weekend, that’s not what you’ll see. The movie ended up pivoting and going with actors. It seems that when the director started to look into the actual process of de-aging, he became less sure it was the right way to go. And then he got a call from one of his actors. Chaves explained:

Farmiga’s argument was that using different actors would make the scene somewhat unsettling for the audience, that having the main actors on screen would give the audience a level of comfort you wouldn’t necessarily want in a scene that was supposed to be scary. In the end, the decision was made to pivot and cast the parts rather than use CGI.

Madison Lawlor and Orion Smith were ultimately cast as the young Lorainne and Ed. Overall, it certainly appears that everybody now agrees that going with the younger actors was the right call. And while The Conjuring: Last Rites is set to be the last film in the franchise for Wilson and Farmiga, perhaps this opens the door to prequel stories?

With The Conjuring considered to be one of the best horror movies, sparking a long-standing franchise based on two very real demonologists, The Conjuring: Last Rites is set to release in 2025. This fourth installment in the main film series looks like this will be the last entry in Ed and Lorraine Warrens journey. After 12 years of filming together as the Warrens, their time is set to end, and it’s quite an emotional parting.

Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson are wrapping up the last little bit for The Conjuring 4, with filming having just completed. In a post on the actress' Instagram, Farmiga bids adieu to her fake marriage to Wilson, and described it in her own words as "a hell of an era."

It’s been theorized and hinted at that Last Rites will be the final installment for a while. Director James Wan hasn’t confirmed or outright denied that this will be the last Conjuring movie, but based on the promotional posters and the trailers, it seems like this will be the last time we see Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson as Ed and Lorraine Warren. Whether the movie ends in victory or defeat is yet to be seen, regardless we will be saying goodbye to Farmiga and Wilson.

While most people come for the chills and thrills, fans of the movie attest that one of the stronger aspects of the movies is the chemistry Wilson and Farmiga have. In the past, the two have shared why they never felt the need to explain the relationship and love that the Warrens share for one another, and the love they have for their daughter as well.

Many fans in the comments have expressed their love and admiration for the duo, and they don't want to say goodbye (myself included). However, all good things must come to an end. Director James Wan even commented on Farmiga’s post, giving his heartfelt goodbye to the pair, he was quoted saying:

The Conjuring: Last Rite is set to open September 5 on the 2025 movies schedule. If you’re new to the franchise or looking to binge, we have a handy dandy guide to the chronological order of all the Conjuring Universe movies, including The Nun and Annabelle. You could follow that, or just start with the main Conjuring installments, and then work your way to the spinoff movies. Either way, they're available with a Max subscription. If you’re a fan of horror movies then you are in for a hell of a time, just maybe watch them with the lights on.

It's no secret that The Sopranos is one of the best HBO shows of all time, as it was wildly acclaimed during its run on the air. But it's also continually found new fans, including those who watched it for the first time streaming with a Max subscription. I binge watched it this year, and fell in love with the strange mixture of comedy and drama, especially as New Jersey native. After bingeing The Sopranos I watched The Many Saints Of Newark, and I think there's a perfect opportunity there for another in-universe show.

The Sopranos' ending is an infamous part of TV history, which is why fans were so excited when news of a prequel film was announced, especially with Michael Gandolfini playing his father's role Tony Soprano after Gandolfini's death in 2013. And while Many Saints of Newark failed to perform at the box office, it was steamed a ton on opening weekend. And after seeing the outstanding performance of the cast, I think that the network should move forward with a new series... even if it only lasts one season and is a limited event.

While being back in David Chase's mob world would have been fun no matter what, it's the cast's performances that really make The Many Saints of Newark such a killer viewing experience. Vera Farmiga might have been the biggest scene stealer for me, as she perfectly embodied Livia Soprano's bitterness, in a performance where she truly managed to channel the late Nancy Marchand.

The trailer for The Many Saints of Newark teased the return to the universe, but watching it was another experience entirely. We returned to certain locations like Satriale's Pork Store, albeit with the older generations of New Jersey mob figures. But we also see a ton of beloved figures, played to pitch perfection by a talented cat of actors. 

Corey Stoll is another standout, absolutely crushing the role of Uncle Junior. He expertly adopted the same vocal and physical movements of his predecessor Dominic Chianese without it being over the top. And The Many Saints of Newark's ending showed how petty and ruthless Junior was while running North Jersey. 

I've also got to tip my hat to Billy Magnussen's take on Paulie Walnuts, as well as John Magaro's Sil. The latter even got his wig taken off in one scene, which hilarious referenced the wig worn throughout the series by Steven Van Zandt. And of course, Michael Gandolfini is eerily similar to his father as Tony, and made the entire movie feel all the more real.

With all of these outstanding performances and a killer cast, it feels like a waste to not give them a limited series to fully portray their characters. The movie's ending felt like it could have simpy been one episode, as there are clearly years of twists and turns to be mined from before the story were to catch up with The Sopranos. But we'll see if HBO actually decides to move forward at any point. 

Both The Sopranos and The Many Saints of Newark are streaming now on Max. 

Many Hollywood stars don't actually live in California these days. While some of the stars on this list might have a home in LA, they certainly seem to prefer to spend their off time very far away from the glitz and the glamour. Here are just some of the many stars that live outside of the Golden State. 

Nicole Kidman - Nashville

Nicole Kidman and her husband (and fellow Aussie) Keith Urban have quite a few homes around the world, including LA and their native Australia, but it's the greater Nashville area that they call home most of the time. 

Meryl Streep - Connecticut

21-time Oscar nominee Meryl Streep was born in New Jersey, went to school at Vassar and Yale, and certainly strikes me as an east coast type of person. While she's lived in LA at times throughout her career, it's Connecticut that she's called home for most of her adult life. She's lived in Salisbury for decades now. 

John Goodman - New Orleans

John Goodman spent years living in LA, but in the '90s he'd had enough of California and he and his Louisiana-born wife made a choice between his hometown of St. Louis, and her home state. They moved to New Orleans, where they've been ever since. 

Matthew McConaughey - Austin

You can take the boy out of Texas, but you can't take the Texas out of the boy. Matthew McConaughey was born in Uvalde, TX, went to school in Austin, and has long lived on a ranch near the Texas state capital and getting fed up with the paparazzi in Malibu.

Bill Murray - Charleston, SC

Bill Murray has lived all over the place, LA, NYC, and Chicago... but he's a known fixture around Charleston, South Carolina and even owns his own restaurant in town called Harold's Cabin. He's also invested in the Charleston minor league baseball team. 

Harrison Ford - Jackson Hole, WY

Harrison Ford moved to LA in the '60s to follow his acting dreams, but once he hit it big, he bailed out. While he does own a home in Brentwood, he spends most of his time at his 800-acre ranch outside Jackson Hole, WY. The ranch has been his primary residence since the 1980s and it seems he prefers to call that home. 

Demi Moore - Idaho

When Covid hit in early 2020, Demi Moore and her daughters holed up together in her longtime house in Sun Valley, Idaho. They were soon joined by her ex-husband and father to her daughters, Bruce Willis. Eventually, Willis' current wife Emma Heming, and her child with Willis also joined the big happy family. Moore has lived in Sun Valley for years and it's often featured on her Instagram page.

Jeff Daniels - Chelsea, MI

Jeff Daniels grew up in the small town of Chelsea, Michigan and as soon as he could after finding success in Hollywood, he moved back. He's a true small-town kind of guy and it makes perfect sense. While he makes his money in Hollywood, his heart is always in Michigan. 

Chris Rock - New Jersey

Chris Rock has always been an East Coast guy. Though he was born in South Carolina, his family moved to Brooklyn when he was a baby. He grew up in Crown Heights and Bed-Stuy. He started his comedy career in New York City, and for a couple of decades has lived in Alpine, New Jersey.

John Travolta - Ocala, FL

John Travolta loves to fly and is a first-class plane spotter. As such, he seems to have found the perfect place to live. The Pulp Fiction star has called Ocala, FL home for decades now. While that might sound odd, it's not when you find out his house backs up to an actual airport, so he can park his planes right at home. Sounds pretty awesome. 

Tom Cruise - Clearwater, FL

Superstar Tom Cruise actually has houses all over the world. LA and London, for starters. The most surprising place he's owns property though has to be Clearwater, FL. Cruise has what's described in the Tampa newspaper as a "sprawling penthouse" just blocks from the headquarters of the Church of Scientology, to which he has long been an outspoken member, so it makes sense. 

Taylor Swift - Nashville

Music star Taylor Swift grew up in Pennsylvania and Nashville and still has a home in the latter, where she seems to spend a lot of her time when she's not on the road. In fact, she has homes all over the place, including LA, Rhode Island, and New York City. 

Chris Evans

Chris Evans grew up just outside of Boston in the suburb of Sudbury, MA. Even though he's become one of the biggest stars in the world, he's stayed close to home. He and his new bride live nearby where he grew up in Massachusetts, after getting married in Boston. 

Chris Hemsworth - Byron Bay

The Australian native Chris Hemsworth couldn't ignore the siren call of home. After years in Hollywood becoming one of the biggest stars in the world, he decided it was time to move home. He and his wife Elsa Pataky settled in a small surfing community south of Brisbane called Byron Bay in 2015 and have never looked back. 

Tommy Lee Jones - Texas

Tommy Lee Jones doesn't seem to care much for the trappings of fame, though he has used some of the money he's earned as an actor to buy a huge tract of land in Texas. Jones might be Harvard-educated and work in Hollywood, but he's Texas through and through. 

Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani - Tishomingo, OK

Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani might be Hollywood's most unlikely couple, at least until you see them together. Less surprising is that they split time between her home stomping grounds in LA and his in Oklahoma. The two built a house on Shelton's ranch in Tishomingo, OK, where they spend most of their time. 

Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds - Bedford, NY

The enduring couple of Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds don't seem to be interested in big city living, instead opting for the small upstate town of Bedford, NY They maintain a couple of other houses, but their real home is in Westchester County, NY, where they live a quiet, but luxurious life in a small enclave with some celebrity neighbors including Martha Stewart and Micheal Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones. 

Mark Ruffalo - Callicoon, NY

Mark Ruffalo is another actor who prefers the peace and quiet of small-town America to the bright lights of Hollywood. The Avengers star and his wife Sunny live in the tiny berg of Callicoon in the Catskill mountains of New York State. 

Elijah Wood - Austin

Elijah Wood doesn't actually live in a shire, like his Lord of the Rings character, but he doesn't live in a huge city, either. Wood has called Austin, TX home for years and a when he was on Hot Ones, he explained where to get all the best meals in town. 

Dave Chappelle - Yellow Springs, OH

Yellow Springs, Ohio might be the last place you'd expect to find a celebrity living among us, but when you understand Dave Chappelle's background, it makes perfect sense. The legendary comedian grew up in Yellow Springs and though he's made a name for himself in Hollywood, the Ohio town is clearly the place he calls home. 

Julia Roberts - Taos, NM

Many years ago, Julia Roberts bought a ranch in Taos, NM, and it seems every year, she spends more and more time there. She even married her husband Danny Moder there. While she does split time in a house in Malibu, closer to work, she seems to prefer the peaceful life of Taos, as she's explained in the past. 

Daniel Day-Lewis - Ireland

Long before Daniel Day-Lewis decided to retire from acting, he had settled into living in Ireland’s County Wicklow. It's hardly surprising that an actor like Lewis would shun the spotlight, after all, he really only worked when the part really fascinated him, and he retired in 2017 despite unparalleled success as a performer. 

John Cena - Land o' Lakes, Florida

Don't confuse John Cena's hometown of Land o' Lakes, Florida for a stick of butter. The Fast X star has lived in the town outside Tampa for a long time. Even as his star has risen in Hollywood, with a major role in the DCEU as Peacemaker both in The Suicide Squad and his own show, The Peacemaker, Cena has resisted moving to California. 

Vera Farmiga - Woodstock, NY

Upstate New York is a popular place for stars to escape the public eye and Vera Farmiga is one of the stars that prefers it that way. The Many Saints of Newark actor lives in the famous artist colony of Woodstock in the Hudson Valley, following in a long tradition of celebrities retreating to the woods to get out of the spotlight, even when she's popping into rock shows in Woodstock to play Iron Maiden covers in a bar band. 

Woody Harrelson - Maui, HI

Woody Harrelson is definitely a man who moves to the beat of his own drummer, so the fact that he lives in Hawaii is hardly a shock. He even semi-retired for a while at the height of his career. While he's not "off the grid", he's certainly off the beaten path. Thankfully, his home was unaffected by the tragic wildfires earlier this year. 

John Mayer - Livingstone, MT

John Mayer has settled down into a much quieter life in recent years. The Dead & Co guitar player has found peace and quiet in the small Montana town of Livingstone. While life on the road certainly has its wild times, one would think, it must be nice for Mayer to get back home for some relaxing peace. 

Ken Jennings - Seattle, WA

Despite being named co-host of Jeopardy! a couple of years ago, and really taking a shine to the gig that shoots in LA, Ken Jennings does not seem to have plans to permanently relocate to Southern California. Jennings and his family have long called Seattle home and it seems he's happy to commute when it's time to shoot new episodes of the legendary game show. 

Robert De Niro - New York City

It's hard to imagine Robert De Niro living anywhere but New York. He just doesn't seem to be a California type of guy at all, right? He even helped get the Tribeca Film Festival off the ground, which bolstered not only NYC but the actual neighborhood he lives in in Manhattan as it struggled to recover from the 9/11 attacks. 

Jennifer Lawrence

Jennifer Lawrence is bi-coastal, for sure. She does have a house in LA, but her husband Cooke Maroney is an art dealer whose business and gallery are in New York City, so she seems to spend most of the time she's not working in the Big Apple. 

Dan Aykroyd - Sydenham, Ontario

Dan Aykroyd has always been proud to be Canadian and he's been a longtime resident of Sydenham, Ontario, near Kingston, ON, not too far from where he grew up in Ottawa. 

Jennifer Hudson - Chicagoland Area

Superstar Jennifer Hudson is a Chicago girl and as such, she's stayed close to home. She may be a worldwide star, but Chicago is what made her who she is today and despite the means to live anywhere, Hudson chooses to live in the suburb of Burr Ridge, outside Chi-Town. 

Nikki Glaser - St. Louis, MO

Despite being the hometown of a lot of huge stars like John Goodman, Sterling K. Brown, Jenna Fischer, and Jon Hamm, most don't stay in town. The exception to that rule is comedian and comedy roast specialist Nikki Glaser. She moved back during the pandemic and found it much more fulfilling to live in her hometown than on either coast. 

While Los Angeles may be the city of dreams, it's not always the city of permanent residence for stars that have reached those lofty heights. Most may get their start on the West Coast but many of the biggest stars in the world don't live in California. 

Did you know The Conjuring universe is a family affair? The core franchise’s Lorraine Warren is played by Vera Farmiga, whilst 2018’s The Nun star Taissa Farmiga, who played Sister Irene in the earliest film in The Conjuring chronological timeline, is Vera’s younger sister. Now that it’s been announced that Taissa is returning for The Nun 2, I wonder if this real-life connection can also bring them together on screen this time around? 

After The Nun 2 previously found its director in Michael Chaves, who recently also directed 2021’s The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It with Vera Farmiga, Taissa Farmiga has signed on to star in the upcoming horror movie alongside Euphoria’s Storm Reid. Per Deadline, Taissa will play Sister Irene once again in The Nun 2. 

Now, in the Conjuring universe, the sisters’ characters are not related as of yet. Vera depicts Lorraine Warren, who was a real paranormal investigator alongside her husband Ed. Their investigations are dramatized by many movies in the horror franchise and take place in the 1970s and 1980s. The Nun, however, takes place in 1952 Romania, and follows Sister Irene, a young nun who aids in an investigation of a nun who died by suicide after a lifetime of having unique visions. 

The Conjuring 2 sees Lorraine encountering a demonic nun figure, which The Nun explores further as a prequel, sharing her origins. Perhaps in The Nun 2, especially with Sister Irene officially part of the story, the sisters can find some kind of connection. Since Lorraine also has psychic gifts like Irene, it's possible it could be revealed that Lorraine is a descendant of Irene. 

Since Irene is a nun and sworn to chastity, it’s unlikely she’d be revealed as Lorraine’s mother. Plus, the real Irene was born in 1927 and would be in her 20s during the events of The Nun, and far away from Romania considering she grew up in Connecticut. Also, with Lorraine Warren having been a real person who existed, the filmmakers may not want to make this kind of connection and fictionalize the Warren’s too much. 

However, once The Nun 2 hits theaters as part of 2023’s movie releases, it will be a decade since 2013’s The Conjuring, the movie that started it all. Maybe The Nun will provide some path for the franchise of horror movies to close out its run. Connecting the prequel to the main films further would be an intriguing way to do it. How about through a vision where one of them sees the other, or what if they have a shared vision? Or the Farmiga sisters both being in the Conjuring movies could just remain a coincidence. 

The Nun 2 is set for a theatrical release date on September 8, 2023. While we wait for the horror sequel, check out our ranked list of all the Conjuring movies so far. 

Every once in a while, celebrity siblings - such as Ben and Casey Affleck or Dakota and Elle Fanning - end up sharing the screen together. Well, apparently it happens a little more often than just every once in a while, given the amount of examples we compiled below.

Jake And Maggie Gyllenhaal (A Dangerous Woman, Homegrown, Donnie Darko)

Oscar nominee Jake Gyllenhaal and his twice-nominated older sister, Maggie, are in three movies together: 1993’s A Dangerous Woman, 1998’s Homegrown (both were directed by their father, Stephen), and the eventual sci-fi cult classic, Donnie Darko, in 2001.

Jeff And Beau Bridges (The Fabulous Baker Boys)

Oscar winner Jeff Bridges and his older brother, Beau, also played siblings in The Fabulous Baker Boys - a 1989 comedy in which the titular musicians become rivals after teaming up with a beautiful aspiring singer (Michelle Pfieffer).

Kate And Rooney Mara (Urban Legends: Bloody Mary)

Kate Mara of the House of Cards cast led the 2005 straight-to-video slasher, Urban Legends: Bloody Mary, in which her younger sister, Nightmare Alley’s Rooney Mara, made her acting debut.

Sean And Chris Penn (At Close Range)

Future two-time Oscar-winner Sean Penn and his late younger brother, Chris (best known from the Reservoir Dogs cast) played siblings in the 1986 crime thriller, At Close Range, starring Christopher Walken as their criminal father.

Andrew, Owen, And Luke Wilson (Bottle Rocket, The Royal Tenenbaums) 

Owen Wilson and his younger sibling, Luke have also acted alongside their eldest brother, Andrew, in 1996’s Bottle Rocket and The Royal Tenenbaums from 2001 - both of which Owen also co-wrote with director Wes Anderson.

Chris And Luke Hemsworth (Thor: Ragnarok)

Chris Hemsworth has yet to star in anything with his little bro, Liam, but the Australian Marvel movie star’s older bother, Westworld star Luke, did show up in Thor: Ragnarok as a dramatized version of the God of Thunder, whom he is set to reprise (along with Matt Damon as “Actor Loki”) in Thor: Love and Thunder.

Dylan And Cole Sprouse (Various)

Twin brothers Dylan and Cole Sprouse (the latter of which went on to join the Riverdale cast) have shared the same role in several TV shows (most notably Grace Under Fire) and movies (such as Big Daddy with Adam Sandler) and have played siblings just as often, most famously as the title characters of The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, its spin-off The Suite Life on Deck, and 2011’s The Suite Life Movie.

Tia, Tamera, And Tahj Mowry  (Sister, Sister, Smart Guy, Seventeen Again)

Twin sisters Tia and Tamera Mowry have shared the screen with their little brother, Tahj, several times - most notably as guest stars on each other’s respective sitcoms, Sister, Sister and Smart Guy, and in the 2000 Showtime original movie, Seventeen Again.

James And Dave Franco (The Disaster Artist)

After years finding success in the business in separate projects, James Franco and his younger brother, Dave, played Tommy Wiseau and Greg Sestero of the infamous cult favorite, The Room, in the 2017 biopic, The Disaster Artist.

Hilary And Haylie Duff (Various)

Haylie Duff would appear on three episodes of her younger sister, Hilary’s, Disney Channel show, Lizzie McGuire, and provided the singing voice of Isabella Parigi in the theatrical spin-off before they both played a singing group on an episode of American Dreams, sisters in the 2006 rags-to-riches story Material Girls, and both leant their voices to the infamous animated movie Foodfight!, which was released in 2012.

Aly And AJ Michalka (Various)

Singer-songwriter duo Aly and AJ Michalka first shared the screen in the 2006 Disney Channel original movie Cow Belles as sisters, again in the MTV original Super Sweet 16: The Movie the next year as rivals, followed by three episodes of Aly’s CW series Hellcats in 2011 as half-sisters. Most recently, they appeared in the 2015 drama, Weepah Way For Now, as what appear to be fictionalized versions of themselves.

Dakota And Elle Fanning (I Am Sam, Taken)

Elle Fanning has portrayed a younger version of her older sister, Dakota, on two separate occasions: first in the 2001 drama I Am Sam and secondly in the Steven Spielberg-produced, Syfy original miniseries, Taken, in 2002.

Spencer And Abigail Breslin (Various)

Academy Award nominee Abigail and her older brother, Spencer, played siblings in both Raising Helen and The Princess Diaries 2: A Royal Engagement in 2004, played elves in The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause in 2006, and later played cousins in the 2014 crime drama, Perfect Sisters.

Jason And Justine Bateman (Arrested Development)

Justine Bateman played her real-life brother, Jason's, sibling in the 1986 TV movie Can You Feel Me Dancing? and a sex worker whom Jason’s Michael Bluth mistakes for his long-lost sibling on Arrested Development.

John, Joan, Ann, And Bill Cusack (Grosse Pointe Blank)

While beloved star John Cusack and his Academy-nominated sister, Joan, have appeared in more films together than most celebrity siblings can claim (including Say Anything… and High Fidelity), the only screen credit that they also share with both their sister, Ann, and brother, Bill, is 1997’s Grosse Pointe Blank, which John also co-wrote and produced.

Bill And Brian Doyle Murray (Various) 

Bill Murray and his older brother, Brian, are both Saturday Night Live veterans (although at different times) and have several classic movies in common - including Caddyshack, Scrooged, Ghostbusters II, Groundhog Day, and The Razor's Edge.

Ben And Casey Affleck (Good Will Hunting, Chasing Amy)

Years before casting him in his amazing directorial debut, Gone Baby Gone, Ben Affleck shared the screen with his younger brother and fellow Oscar winner, Casey, in Good Will Hunting (which Ben co-wrote with Matt Damon) and Kevin Smith’s Chasing Amy in 1997.

Macaulay And Kieran Culkin (Home Alone, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York)

Kieran Culkin (now more famous than ever since starring on HBO’s Succession) made his acting debut alongside his older brother (child megastar Macaulay Culkin) in 1990’s Home Alone cast as his cousin, Fuller - a role he would also reprise in the 1992 sequel.

Rory And Kieran Culkin (Igby Goes Down)

In addition to playing Macaulay’s younger self in Richie Rich, the youngest Culkin brother, Rory, also played a younger version of Kieran as the title role in 2002's Igby Goes Down.

The Wayans Siblings (Various) 

Where do we start with the Wayans Siblings? Well, for instance, several of them (such as Damon and Kim Wayans) were a part of the In Living Color cast with star and creator Keenen Ivory Wayans, who later directed his younger brothers, Marlon and Shawn, in movies like White Chicks, the first two Scary Movie installments, and Little Man.

Zooey And Emily Deschanel (Bones)

In Season 5 of Bones, star Emily Deschanel’s sister (Zooey of the Elf cast fame and later the lead of the New Girl cast) guest starred as Temperance Brennan’s second cousin, Margaret Whitesell.

Fred And Ben Savage (Little Monsters, The Wonder Years, Boy Meets World)

After playing siblings in the family-friendly horror film, Little Monsters, in 1989, Ben Savage made a guest appearance on his older brother, Fred’s, hit dramedy, The Wonder Years, in 1990 and later returned the favor by inviting him to the Boy Meets World cast for an episode in 1998.

Charlie Sheen And Emilio Estevez (Various)

After making several movies together - including Young Guns, Men At Work, and Rated X (the latter two of which Emilio Estevez directed), Charlie Sheen (née Carlos Estevez) reunited with his brother on an episode of his hit sitcom, Two and a Half Men, in 2008.

Vanessa and Laura Marano (Saving Zoë)

Both of these talented ladies had guest appearances on Dexter at different times in the series’ run, but Vanessa Marano and her younger sister, Laura, did appear together in the 2019 mystery, Saving Zoë, as siblings torn apart by one’s unsolved murder.

Nat And Alex Wolff (The Naked Brothers Band, Mr. Troop Mom, Stella’s Last Weekend)

Hereditary’s Alex Wolff and his older brother, Peacock’s Joe vs. Carole cast member Nat Wolff, both debuted as fictionalized versions of themselves in Nickelodeon’s faux rockumentary, The Naked Brothers Band, its series continuation, and the 2009 TV movie Mr. Troop Mom before reuniting in 2018’s Stella’s Last Weekend, which was written and directed by their mother, Polly Draper.

Vera And Taissa Farmiga (Higher Ground, At Middleton, The Nun)

Scream Queens Vera and Taissa Farmiga, who are often mistaken for mother and daughter, played mother and daughter in 2013’s At Middleton after Taissa previously played her older sister’s younger self in Vera’s 2011 directorial debut, Higher Ground. However, interestingly, their characters in the 2018 Conjuring spin-off, The Nun, have no apparent familial ties.

Maude And Iris Apatow (Knocked Up, This Is 40, Funny People)

Euphoria’s Maude Apatow and her younger sister, Iris, have played siblings in 2007’s Knocked Up, its “sort-of sequel” This is 40 from 2012, and 2009’s Funny People - all three of which also starred their real mother, Leslie Mann, as their mother, and were written and directed by their father, Judd Apatow.

Dan And Sarah Levy (Schitt’s Creek)

While Annie Murphy plays co-creator Dan Levy’s on-screen sister in the Schitt’s Creek cast, Café Tropical owner, Twyla Sands, is played by his real-life sister, Sarah.

Mary-Kate, Ashley, And Elizabeth Olsen (How The West Was Fun)

After Full House made the Olsen Twins, Mary-Kate and Ashley, household names and  before the Marvel movies made their younger sister, Elizabeth, an A-lister, all three of them appeared together in the ABC original TV movie How the West Was Fun in 1994.

Bill And Alexander Skarsgård (White Water Fury)

Years before his terrifying performance as Pennywise in It, Bill Skarsgård made his acting debut alongside his older brother, True Blood cast member Alexander, in the 2000 Swedish thriller, White Water Fury.

Blake And Robyn Lively (Simon Says)

Robyn Lively, star of 1989’s Teen Witch, shared the screen with her then up-and-coming half-sister, former Gossip Girl cast member Blake Lively, in a 2006 slasher flick called Simon Says, which also stars fellow ‘80s icon Crispin Glover.

Brian And Domhnall Gleeson (Mother!, Frank Of Ireland)

Despite plenty of years of experience between the them, it was not until 2017 when Star Wars star Domnhall Gleeson and his younger brother, Brian, shared the screen in Mother! before reuniting as co-creators and co-stars of the Amazon Prime original comedy Frank of Ireland - also starring their father, Brendan Gleeson.

Eddie And Charlie Murphy (Harlem Nights, Norbit)

Comedy icon Eddie Murphy worked behind the scenes a lot with his older brother, Charlie, who passed away in 2017, but the two would also share a few acting credits, - namely Eddie’s 1989 directorial debut Harlem Nights (also Charlie’s first movie), and in 2006’s Norbit, in which Charlie voiced a dog named Floyd.

Phylicia Rashad And Debbie Allen (The Cosby Show, Grey’s Anatomy, The Old Settler)

Phylicia Rashad and her younger sister, Emmy-winning dance legend Debbie Allen, have made guest appearances on each other’s shows - The Cosby Show, on which Rashad played Claire Huxtable, and Grey’s Anatomy, on which Allen plays Dr. Catherine Fox (née Avery) - and both starred in a 2001 TV movie called The Old Settler, which Allen also directed.

Ron And Clint Howard (Various) 

You can find Clint Howard in just about every movie directed by his brother, Ron Howard - including his feature-length directorial debut from 1977, Grand Theft Auto, which was also the brothers’ third time acting alongside each other after the 1963 film The Courtship of Eddie’s Father and a handful of episodes of The Andy Griffith Show.

Angelina Jolie And James Haven (Gia, Hell’s Kitchen, Original Sin)

Audiences probably remember Angelina Jolie’s brother, James Haven, better for other reasons than all the times he shared the screen with his younger sister - namely Gia and Hell’s Kitchen from 1998, and 2001’s Original Sin.

Jared And Shannon Leto (Various)

In addition to being bandmates with his young brother, Oscar winner Jared Leto, in 30 Seconds to Mars, Shannon Leto also shared the screen with him on a couple of episodes of My So-Called Life (on which Jared played the iconic Jordan Catalano) and through brief appearances in the movies Prefontaine from 1997, 1998’s Highway, and Sol Goode in 2003.

Chris And Scott Evans (Before We Go, Playing It Cool)

Former Captain America actor Chris Evans has a brother named Scott who has also appeared in two romantic-comedies from 2014 with his older sibling, called Before We Go (which Chris also directed) and Playing It Cool.

Sarah And Laura Silverman (The Sarah Silverman Program, Bob’s Burgers, Masters Of Sex)

Comedian and actress Sarah Silverman and her sister, Laura, played heavily fictionalized versions of themselves as series regulars on The Sarah Silverman Program, made guest appearances on Showtime’s Masters of Sex together, and have recurred on Bob’s Burgers as Jimmy Pesto’s twin sons, Andy and Ollie.

Kevin, Nick, And Joe Jonas (Camp Rock Movies, Jonas)

Back when they were the biggest thing to come out of Disney Channel, Kevin, Nick, and Joe Jonas played three brothers in a band not named the Jonas Brothers in the Camp Rock movies, and later played themselves to more comedic effect in their own sitcom, aptly titled Jonas.

Looks like talent really does run in the family.

How cool is it that Vera Farmiga is now a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe since appearing in Disney+’s Hawkeye cast? The Academy Award nominated actress has already worked with legends like Martin Scorsese, has reigned supremely as a scream queen for years since starring in The Conjuring movies (among other films and TV shows), and now we might get her in more upcoming Marvel movies, potentially. 

There are plenty more titles we consider to be among the best Vera Farmiga movies and TV shows that are also available now on streaming or for digital rental. However, let’s get things started with her debut comic book adaptation role in one of the coolest Marvel TV shows on Disney+. 

Hawkeye (2021)

Looking to finally settle down and retire from being an Avenger (for the last time), Clint Barton (Academy Award nominee Jeremy Renner) must partner-up with a young, aspiring archer (Academy Award nominee Hailee Steinfeld) to help him take on a nefarious foe and get back home to his family in time for Christmas.

Why it’s a great Vera Farmiga show: As Eleanor Bishop - the wealthy CEO of Bishop Security and mother of Hailee Steinfeld’s character, Kate Bishop - Vera Farmiga is one of several Oscar nominees in the cast of Hawkeye - the latest of Disney+’s action-packed MCU-canon TV series, and its most festive yet.  

Stream Hawkeye on Disney+.

The Conjuring (2013)

A distraught family enlists the help of married paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga) to rid the old farm house they recently moved into of its malevolvent, demonic inhabitants in early 1970s Rhode Island.

Why it’s a great Vera Farmiga movie: While Vera Farmiga was already known for a few notable horror titles (which we will get to soon), she started to became a modern icon of the genre after starring in director James Wan’s The Conjuring - one of the best haunted house movies in recent years - as real-life demonologist Lorraine Warren, whom she would reprise in four more films, so far.

Stream The Conjuring on Netflix.
Stream The Conjuring on HBO Max.
Rent/buy The Conjuring digitally on Amazon.

Orphan (2009)

After suffering a recent tragedy, a woman (Vera Farmiga) and her husband (Peter Sarsgaard) take in a precocious 9-year-old girl (Isabelle Fuhrmann) whom they are, at first, completely charmed by, until a darker side to her personality begins to emerge, leading the couple to question if there is more to their new daughter than meets than eye.

Why it’s a great Vera Farmiga movie: One of Vera Farmiga’s first and best horror movies was Orphan - a strange and more frighteningly believable thriller than some of the actresses’ other contributions to the genre, from director Jaume Collet-Sera, which is often noted for its killer twist reveal.

Rent/buy Orphan digitally on Amazon.

Bates Motel (2013-2017)

As teenager Norman Bates (Freddie Highmore) begins to grow closer to his mother (Vera Farmiga), his own psyche begins to unravel and reveal dark, deep-seated tendencies.

Why it’s a great Vera Farmiga show: In the same year The Conjuring made her a horror movie icon, Vera Farmiga resurrected one of horror’s most iconic characters with an Emmy-nominated performance as Norma Bates on Bates Motel - A&E’s arresting and disturbing hit series, which serves as a modernized prequel to Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho.

Stream Bates Motel on Peacock.
Stream Bates Motel on IMDbTV.
Buy Bates Motel digitally on Amazon.

The Many Saints Of Newark (2021)

As young Tony Soprano (Michael Gandolfini) begins to grow closer to his uncle (Alessandro Nivola), a violent clash between rival Italian-American gangs emerges in New Jersey.

Why it’s a great Vera Farmiga movie: Vera Farmiga resurrected one of cable TV’s most iconic characters with an inspired performance as Livia Soprano in The Many of Saints of Newark - a gritty, old school mafia picture that serves as a prequel to creator David Chase’s acclaimed HBO original series, The Sopranos.

The Many Saints Of Newark is currently available for Premium Digital Ownership at Amazon.

Up In The Air (2009)

An expert in corporate downsizing (Academy Award winner George Clooney) begins to question if his solitary life of constant air travel is what he really wants, when he meets a fellow frequent traveler (Vera Farmiga).

Why it’s a great Vera Farmiga movie: Vera Farmiga brought back George Clooney’s faith in humanity with an Oscar-nominated performance as Alex Goran in this adaptation of Walter Kirn’s novel, Up in the Air - one of the funniest and most inspiring dramedies from director Jason Reitman.

Stream Up In The Air on HBO Max.
Rent/buy Up In The Air digitally on Amazon.

The Departed (2006)

A young cop (Leonardo DiCaprio) endures an exhausting infiltration of South Boston’s Irish mafia, led by a ruthless criminal (Jack Nicholson), while a high-ranking detective (Matt Damon) struggles to keep his involvement in the same crew a secret.  

Why it’s a great Vera Farmiga movie: Vera Farmiga plays a psychiatrist who cannot help but fall for two men secretly hiding on opposite sides of the law in the 2007 Best Picture Oscar winner, The Departed - a thrilling English-language adaptation of the Chinese crime thriller Infernal Affairs, that also finally earned Martin Scorsese his first win for Best Director.

Stream The Departed on HBO Max.
Rent/buy The Departed digitally on Amazon.

The Commuter (2018)

On the same train that he has taken back and forth to work everyday for the past decade, a former cop turned insurance salesman (Liam Neeson) must wield the skills he used on the force when a stranger (Vera Farmiga) asks him to identify a certain passenger of interest, or this train ride could be his last.

Why it’s a great Vera Farmiga movie: Reuniting with Orphan director Jaume Collet-Sera, and her fellow Conjuring cast member Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga had a brief but pivotal and memorably ominous role in The Commuter, which is a fun guilty pleasure for audiences who love to watch Liam Neeson do what he does best.

Rent/buy The Commuter digitally on Amazon.

The Front Runner (2018)

Colorado-based U.S. Senator Gary Hart (Academy Award nominee Hugh Jackman) sees his promising presidential campaign go up in flames after evidence of his extramarital affair with a young woman (Sara Paxton) evolves into a media frenzy.

Why it’s a great Vera Farmiga movie: Reuniting with Up in the Air director Jason Reitman, and co-star J.K. Simmons, Vera Farmiga plays Oletha “Lee” Hart, the burdened wife of an adulterous politician, in The Front Runner, which tells the true story of one of the first highly publicized and most damaging political scandals in history.

Rent/buy The Front Runner digitally on Amazon.

Iron Jawed Angels (2004)

A group of young, ambitious activists (including Academy Award winner Hilary Swank) work tirelessly and not without costly sacrifices to secure the right for women to vote and run for office in early 1900s America.

Why it’s a great Vera Farmiga movie: Speaking of true stories in groundbreaking political history, Vera Farmiga plays Polish-American suffragist and dedicated National Women’s Party member Rusa Wenclawska in the HBO original movie, Iron Jawed Angels - an inspiring, stylistically unique, Emmy-nominated retelling one of the most important movements in the name of social justice.

Stream Iron Jawed Angels on HBO Max.

When They See Us (2019)

A group of five, racially diverse men from Harlem spend a quarter of a century fighting to prove their innocence after, as teenagers, they become wrongfully accused of brutally and sexually assaulting a white woman in New York City’s Central Park in 1989.

Why it’s a great Vera Farmiga show: Speaking of social justice, Vera Farmiga plays Elizabeth Lederer (a former New York assistant DA who led the prosecution in the Central Park Five case) in one of 2019's best Netflix original shows, When They See Us - creator and director Ava DuVernay’s heart-wrenching, Emmy-winning retelling of one of the most infamous cases in American history.

Stream When They See Us on Netflix.

The Boy In The Striped Pajamas (2008)

After moving from Berlin, Germany, to a European countryside, an 8-year-old boy (Asa Butterfield) starts a friendship with a boy his age who lives on the side of a fence surrounding a Nazi concentration camp, which his father (David Thewlis) happens to be the commandant for.

Why it’s a great Vera Farmiga movie: Speaking of infamous history, Vera Farmiga plays the mother of a young boy who learns about the horrifying events of the Holocaust from an inside source in The Boy in the Striped Pajamas - writer and director Mark Herman’s captivating and heartbreaking adaptation of John Boyne’s historical fiction novel.

Rent/buy The Boy In The Striped Pajamas digitally on Amazon.

Source Code (2011)

An Army captain (Academy Award nominee Jake Gyllenhaal) is selected to participate in a special program that inserts him into the body of a terrorist-bombing victim just minutes before his death, in order to gather information about the culprit.

Why it’s a great Vera Farmiga movie: Vera Farmiga plays an Air Force captain who communicates with Jake Gyllenhaal’s character about his special task in Source Code - the sophomore effort from Moon director Duncan Jones, and one of the most clever and entertaining sci-fi movies of its time.

Stream Source Code on Showtime.
Rent/buy Source Code digitally on Amazon.

As far as I am concerned, Vera Farmiga is one of the most talented and versatile actors of our time. We just provided you 13 examples of evidence to back up that claim. 

Some of the best horror movies to me have always been the supernatural kind, the ones that get under your skin and create crazy, unexplainable moments that will have anyone jumping in fear. One of the films that has best defined that is The Conjuring, a supernatural horror movie that came out in 2013. 

While The Conjuring spawned a whole entire The Conjuring universe, the first film, to me, will always be the best, with some of the best cast. But now, eight years after the original film released, where is The Conjuring cast, including Vera Farmiga? Look no further, because we have the answers you’ve been looking for right here. 

Vera Farmiga (Lorraine Warren) 

Playing the real-life Lorraine Warren in The Conjuring can be a heavy cross to bear with how much she did for the supernatural community, but Vera Farmiga rocked the role and created a memorable horror character that stands out to this day. Since The Conjuring, Farmiga has been active in Hollywood pretty consistently. 

For film, she reprised the role of Lorraine Warren several times in The Conjuring universe, including the latest, The Devil Made Me Do It. But, other than her adventures into horror, Vera Farmiga has appeared in the monster movie, Godzilla: King of Monsters, The Judge, The Front Runner, and the HBO Max film, The Many Saints of Newark. 

With TV, Farmiga received acclaim for her role as Norma Bates, the mother of Norman Bates, in Bates Hotel. She also portrayed a lawyer in the Netflix miniseries, When They See Us, earning her further acclaim, and appeared in a guest role in Halston. Coming up, she will appear in the Disney+ original series, Hawkeye, and has a role in the upcoming miniseries called Five Days at Memorial, so keep an eye out for this talented actress. 

Patrick Wilson (Ed Warren) 

The husband of Lorraine Warren, Ed Warren was just as important to the story as she was in The Conjuring, and Patrick Wilson portrayed the second half of the famous supernatural team. Since The Conjuring, Patrick Wilson has appeared in both TV and film. 

Wilson returned to horror after The Conjuring, appearing in the Insidious franchise (also directed by James Wan). But, besides scary movies, Wilson also appeared in Stretch, Zipper, Bone Tomahawk, The Founder, the DCU movie, Aquaman, the Netflix original film, In The Tall Grass, the war film, Midway, and many others. 

Patrick Wilson has also made strides in TV, appearing in the HBO series Girls in a guest role, and played the part of Lou Solverson in Fargo. In the next couple of years, he will again be reprising his role in Aquaman: The Lost Kingdom, and appear in a film called Moonfall. 

Lili Taylor (Carolyn Perron)

The matriarch of the Perron family, Carolyn Perron had to put up with a lot of crap in that house to try and keep her family alive, and I have to give her credit where credit is due. Carolyn was played by Lili Taylor in The Conjuring, and she's kept active in both TV and film since her role. 

Taylor had a role in the Dylan O’Brien-led movie, Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials, Leatherface, Eli, The Evening Hour and many others, but television is really where she shined. Lili Taylor had a major role in the horror series, Hemlock Grove, Almost Human, and had a starring role in the anthology series, American Crime. She also appeared in Chambers and Perry Mason in 2020.

Ron Livingston (Roger Perron) 

Roger Perron was the patriarch of the family, and was the aid to Carolyn in keeping their family alive despite the terrifying haunting that was happening. Ron Livingston has had plenty of success after his role in The Conjuring. 

Livingston has appeared in several films, including Parkland, the comedy, Vacation, Digging for Fire, the sci-fi film, The 5th Wave, The Professor and more. Television has also been huge for him, appearing in a big role in the HBO original show, Boardwalk Empire, as well as Search Party, he holds a lead role in Loudermilk currently, and a recurring role in A Million Little Things. He also had a supporting role in Holly Slept Over. 

Ron Livingston is also going to be entering the DC universe soon, portraying Henry Allen in the upcoming The Flash, so be sure to check that out when it releases in 2022. 

Shanley Caswell (Andrea Perron)

One of the many children in the Perron family, Shanley Caswell was one of the eldest, played by Andrea Perron. Caswell has had some success in film, with a couple of short movies released as well as a role in the horror movie, Haunting of Fraternity Row. However, television is really where she showed off her skills. 

Her biggest role thus far was a recurring stint on NCIS: New Orleans, starting in 2014, one that she kept for several years. She’s also appeared in shows like Vegas, The Night Shift, The Resident, and others. Currently, she’s part of the main cast of Power Book III: Raising Kanan. 

Hayley McFarland (Nancy Perron)

Another one of the children, Hayley McFarland played Nancy Perron, and has had major success in television since her role in The Conjuring. 

She’s appeared in the film Agnes, but had a guest part in Mad Men, a recurring role in the FX drama, Sons of Anarchy, and a guest stint on the medical drama, Grey’s Anatomy. Soon, she’s going to appear in a new film called Out of Exile as Dawn Russell, so hopefully it won’t be long before you get to see her up on movie screens again. 

Joey King (Christine Perron)

Third child is up for the Perron family, this time being Christine Perron, played by Joey King. Arguably, Joey King has had the most success out of all her sisters in the Perron family in The Conjuring, appearing in not only several TV shows but movies as well. 

With television, King appeared in shows like Fargo and The Haunting House: The Series, and even had guest appearances on shows like The Simpsons and Nailed It!, but her biggest television role was playing Gypsy Blanchard in the Hulu original series, The Act, a role she received critical acclaim for. 

King has also appeared in a variety of films, including, but not limited to, the stop-motion film, The Boxcar Children, the sci-fi film, Independence Day: Resurgence, and the action film, White House Down. She also made a return to horror with The Slender Man. However, King’s biggest role in film has been playing Elle Evans in the The Kissing Booth series, most recently as part of The Kissing Booth 3 cast. Soon, she’ll be in Bullet Train, alongside Brad Pitt, in 2022, so it won’t be long before she’s on movie screens again. 

Mackenzie Foy (Cindy Perron)

Next up we have Mackenzie Foy, who played Cindy Perron in The Conjuring. Foy has appeared in a couple of parts on television, in two made for TV movies called The Cookie Mobster and Jesse Stone: Lost in Paradise, but has mainly stuck to the big screen. 

Foy had a role in the Matthew McConaughey movie, Interstellar, a voice role in The Little Prince, had the starring role in the fantasy film, The Nutcracker and the Four Realms, appeared in the Disney+ original film, Black Beauty, and many others. I’m sure with how talented this young actress is, we’ll be seeing her again real soon. 

Kyla Deaver (April Perron)

The last of the Perron children, Kyla Deaver played April Perron, and has had a nice career in television since her role in The Conjuring. She appeared in Drop Dead Diva, Masters of Sex, and a couple of other shows. 

Deaver has popped up in movies, as well, appearing in Before I Wake, Tell Me Your Name, and a couple of others. 

Shannon Kook (Drew Thomas)

Drew Thomas is another character that regularly makes appearances in The Conjuring universe, played by the talented Shannon Kook. 

Kook has had success in film since his first appearance in The Conjuring, having roles in The Dependables, Dark Places, Goliath, and a couple of others, but he’s really shined in a few of his television roles. Kook had a recurring role in the series, Carmilla, appeared in Shadowhunters, and portrayed Jordan Green on the CW show The 100 for two seasons. 

In 2021, he’s appeared in Nancy Drew, portraying Grant for a few episodes, and reprised his role from The Conjuring again (after The Conjuring 2), in The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, so I have a feeling this won’t be the last we see of Shannon Kook any time soon. 

John Brotherton (Brad Hamilton)

Playing Brad Hamilton in The Conjuring, John Brotherton has appeared in a variety of film and television shows. For movies, he had a minor appearance in Guardians of the Galaxy, and had a role in the movie, Precious Cargo. 

With television, he’s had plenty of guest appearances, including sitcoms like 2 Broke Girls and Modern Family, and even an appearance on the Hulu original show, American Horror Stories. He also had a recurring role as Matt Harmon in the Netflix original series, Fuller House, a spinoff of the comedy, Full House. 

Sterling Jerins (Judy Warren)

Lastly, we take a look at Judy Warren, the daughter of the Warrens, played by Sterling Jerins, who has had a successful career post The Conjuring. Like her onscreen parents, Sterling Jerins has appeared in several of The Conjuring films after the original, but has also had roles in movies like the zombie film, World War Z, No Escape, and more. 

In terms of television, Jerins also had a main role in the HBO series, Divorce, alongside Sarah Jessica Parker. She also had a recurring role in the series Deception, and in the drama series, Almost Family. Keep an eye out for this teen actor, because I have a feeling we’ll be seeing a lot more of her in the future. 

Just talking about The Conjuring has me excited for all the upcoming horror movies that are coming our way. I’m eager for some scares and for popcorn to go flying - just as it made mine go flying back in 2013 when the movie first came out.

Vera Farmiga is constantly adding new projects to her already impressive portfolio. Many of her past work includes must-watch movies and TV shows. In 2021 alone, she appeared in four major projects, including The Conjuring 3 and The Many Saints of Newark. Vera Farmiga will also appear in one of the most highly anticipated Fall 2021 shows: Hawkeye.  She’s an actress that consistently produces awe-inducing performances. 

Whether playing Norma Bates or Lorraine Warren, you’re going to find yourself drawn to Farmiga’s character and her performance. Luckily for fans of Vera Farmiga, she has a few thrilling upcoming projects and a few need-to-see new movie releases and TV shows. Let’s discuss some of the upcoming Vera Farmiga movies and TV shows to add to your must-watch list. 

Hawkeye - November 24, 2021 (Post-Production)

Disney+ has been creating really well-made Marvel TV shows that offer fans something to enjoy weekly while they wait for the next movie. Series like Loki and WandaVision have brought Disney+ even more subscribers and an increase in streaming viewers. Disney+ and many of the Marvel Cinematic Universe fans are hoping Hawkeye is just as interesting, enjoyable, and widely watched as the other major Disney+ and Marvel streaming shows.

The Hawkeye cast may be exciting enough to get people streaming the series weekly. It features the return of Jeremy Renner as Clint Barton, aka Hawkeye, and introduces Kate Bishop played by Hailee Steinfeld. Kate could have a major part in the upcoming phase of Marvel movies and shows. Along with Renner and Barton, Vera Farmiga will have a major role as Eleanor Bishop, Kate’s mother. If Eleanor survives the Hawkeye series, Farmiga could potentially reprise her role for future Marvel movies and TV shows. Hawkeye premieres on Disney+ on November 24.

Five Days At Memorial - TBD (Filming)

Five Days at Memorial is an upcoming limited series about the events that took place five days after Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. It's based on the book Five Days at Memorial: Life and Death in a Storm-Ravaged Hospital by Sheri Fink. This will be an AppleTV+ series created and written by John Ridley and Carlton Cuse.

This project sets up a Bates Motel reunion as Carlton Cuse co-created and produced that series as well. Farmiga plays Dr. Anna Pou in Five Days At Memorial. She’s the main doctor on duty when the storm hits. The series explores whether Pou euthanized several critically ill patients at the hospital, and the attempt to prosecute Pou and others for the death of 23 patients.

It's unclear when the limited series will premiere on Apple TV+ but casting was still being announced as of August 2021.

The Salamander Lives Twice-TBD (Pre-Production)

Adrien Brody and Vera Farmiga co-star in the mystery thriller The Salamander Lives Twice. The film follows a man who wakes up on the shoreline of a remote island with an impossible-to-open briefcase. The man, played by Brody, has no memory of his life before ending up on the island. A woman and her daughter find him on the island.

Vera Farmiga plays the woman who discovers Brody’s character. She and her daughter are the last living relatives of a once-wealthy dynasty. Toby Harvard wrote the script for The Salamander Lives Twice, and Ant Timpson will direct. Timpson’s previous directing work includes Come to Daddy, a 2019 black comedy starring Elijah Woods. Toby Harvard also wrote that film. According to Variety, The Salamander Lives Twice was scheduled to begin production in spring 2021, but there have not been any major updates on the film since November 2020. Likely, this may be a film that fans of Farmiga, Brody, Harvard, and Timpson have to wait a little longer to see.

Bad Bloom - TBD(In-Development)

Bad Bloom is Farmiga’s return to the horror genre, though she never really left since The Conjuring franchise is still going strong. The Hollywood Reporter describes the film as a “horror fairytale” that follows a family living on an isolated island. The children are told they live in this remote area to keep monsters at bay, but the children discover that the monsters they fear are not the same as the ones they encounter.

Also according to The Hollywood Reporter, Bad Bloom was originally set to begin production in “the second half of 2021.” As of September 2021, no official filming date has been announced. Farmiga will not only star in Bad Bloom, but she will be one of the producers. Bryce McGuire will direct Bad Bloom. This is McGuire’s feature directorial debut.

Recent Vera Farmiga Shows And Movies

In 2021, Vera Farmiga also had several major projects that you may have missed with so many TV shows and movies coming out in what seems like every minute. Here are a few Vera Farmiga TV shows and movies to watch streaming or through rentals.

Halston

Halston is one of Ryan Murphy and Netflix’s latest collaborations. Murphy acts as producer, but Sharr White created the series. It stars Ewan McGregor in the title role. Halston was an American fashion designer who really hit the peak of his fame in the '70s. The series explores his life and fame. This role earned Ewan McGregor an Emmy award. Farmiga plays Adele in Halston, a fragrance expert that Halston often consults. Stream Halston on Netflix.

The Many Saints of Newark

The Many Saints of Newark is The Sopranos prequel that follows a young Tony Soprano (Michael Gandolfini) as he becomes increasingly more drawn into the life of crime and being a gangster. Farmiga plays Livia Soprano, the mother of Tony. The Many Saints of Newark premiered on HBO Max on October 1. Stream The Many Saints of Newark on HBO Max.

Conjuring 3: The Devil Made Me Do It

Conjuring 3: The Devil Made Me Do It follows Ed (Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine Warren in 1981 as they fight to save a young boy from possible demonic possession. It’s one of the real Warrens’ most infamous cases. Rent Conjuring 3: The Devil Made Me Do It on Amazon.

Vera Farmiga has some very big projects ahead. She’ll be joining the Marvel franchise, appearing in a new creepy and intriguing horror film, and co-starring in a thriller that sounds very fascinating and fun. These upcoming projects continue Farmiga’s string of cool and compelling projects. I can’t wait to see all of them.

The story of The Sopranos continues, sort of. David Chase, the man who brought us the crime drama series, co-wrote with Lawrence Konner The Many Saints of Newark, a prequel to the HBO show. The film was directed by Sopranos vet Alan Taylor (who won an Emmy for his direction of the series) and stars Alessandro Nivola, Michael Gandolfini, Leslie Odom Jr., Jon Bernthal, Corey Stoll, Billy Magnussen, Michela De Rossi, John Magaro, Ray Liotta, and Vera Farmiga.

In The Many Saints of Newark, a young Anthony Soprano (Gandolfini) is growing up in one of the most tumultuous eras in Newark's history, as rival gangsters challenge the all-powerful DiMeo crime family’s hold over the increasingly race-torn city. Caught up in the changing times is his uncle, Dickie Moltisanti (Nivola), who struggles to manage both his professional and personal responsibilities, and whose influence over his nephew will help make the impressionable teenager into the all-powerful mob boss he’ll later be known as: Tony Soprano. The crime drama will release in theaters on Friday, October 1, with a simultaneous release on HBO Max for a month (a move which David Chase is not too happy about). Critics have started to release their reviews, so let's check them out.

CinemaBlend’s own Sean O’Connell liked the gangster flick, rating it 4 out of 5 stars, though he did note that fans of The Sopranos will enjoy The Many Saints of Newark more than non-fans, as this isn’t a stand-alone film. It helps fill in gaps left by the original series, and O’Connell argued that it even solves the mystery surrounding the ending of the series finale (if you know, you know). He also commended some of the acting in the film, but O’Connell’s main point was that fans of the show will enjoy this movie, saying:

David Ehrlich from IndieWire also really enjoyed the crime drama, noting that it will resonate most with fans of The Sopranos. He, like O’Connell, pointed out that this prequel helps fill in gaps that the series left behind. Ehrlich applauded many of the performances, specifically those of Gandolfini and Nivola, who were “brilliant” in their roles (Gandolfini is the son of James Gandolfini, who famously portrayed the adult Tony Soprano in the HBO series). He said:

David Rooney from The Hollywood Reporter also commended Nivola’s “compelling” performance as Dickie Moltisani, as well as Leslie Odom Jr.’s role as Harold McBrayer. But though he enjoyed those performances as well as the production and costume design, he thought some roles were too “sketch comedy-like,” and didn’t pay proper homage to the characters from the show. He also thought the movie expanded upon the TV show’s foundation, but will remain confusing to those who haven’t seen the series, saying:

Leah Greenblatt enjoyed the drama overall, specifically giving praise to Nivola’s “soulful and tormented” performance, as well as Odom Jr.’s (definitely sensing a pattern here). She enjoyed many callbacks to The Sopranos, as well as how the film built upon mysteries from the show, but she also noted that at times, the two-hour movie was too convoluted. But Greenblatt argued that fans of the crime series will enjoy The Many Saints of Newark, saying:

These critics so far have all pretty much agreed that fans of The Sopranos will enjoy The Many Saints of Newark, but that sentiment is not shared across the board. A.A. Dowd from AV Club thought the crime drama was a massive let down. He was disappointed that we’re meant to believe that this film will tell us who made Tony Soprano (his uncle, Dickie) but that foundation is not touched upon enough to satisfy viewers, and the character of Dickie is just a “paper napkin sketch.” Dowd also argued that the filtering of gangster cinema into two hours just leaves us with the tropes, and little to no character development. He also thought that the holes of the original series that this movie fills in wasn’t necessary. Overall, here’s what he said of Chase’s prequel:

Well, these critics mostly think that fans of The Sopranos will enjoy this film. But you'll soon be able to decide that for yourself when The Many Saints of Newark releases in theaters and simultaneously on HBO Max on October 1.

While we wait fo the crime drama to debut, you can plan your next movie-watching experience with our 2021 movie release guide.

An English-language remake of 2002's Infernal Affairs, Martin Scorsese's The Departed was a star-studded action-thriller blockbuster, filled to the brim with big-name talents, including Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg, Anthony Anderson, Alec Baldwin, and Vera Farmiga, only a few short years before she found mainstream success. What was once intended to be a fun modernized throwback became one of the signature director's biggest critical/commercial successes and one of the best movies of the 2000s, resulting in Scorsese receiving his long-coveted Best Picture. It's hard to believe that nearly 15 years have passed since this crime film stormed into theaters, but the A-list ensemble continues to work actively on a number of big projects, which we'll share with you now.

Leonardo DiCaprio (Trooper Billy Costigan Jr.)

As Trooper Billy Costigan Jr., a determined police officer who infiltrates Frank Costello's crew, Leonardo DiCaprio plays the protagonist in Martin Scorsese's The Departed. Most notably, DiCaprio won an Oscar for The Revenant. He was also Oscar-nominated for What's Eating Gilbert Grape, The Aviator, Blood Diamond, Once Upon a Time In Hollywood, and The Wolf of Wall Street, which he also produced. His other film credits include Titanic, Catch Me If You Can, Inception, Revolutionary Road, Django Unchained, Romeo + Juliet, Shutter Island, The Quick and the Dead, and The Basketball Diaries. Additionally, DiCaprio appeared in J. Edgar, The Man with the Iron Mask, and Critters 3.

Moreover, on television, Leonardo DiCaprio appeared in NBC's Parenthood (the '90s one) and ABC's Growing Pains. Additionally, outside of acting, DiCaprio is the producer behind Out of the Furnace, Richard Jewell, Orphan, Live by Night, and Robin Hood (2018). Next, DiCaprio will be seen in Adam McKay's Don't Look Up. Currently, the actor is filming Martin Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon, which he is also producing.

Matt Damon (Staff Sergeant Colin Sullivan)

In the role of Staff Sergeant Colin Sullivan, an undercover gangster nestled into the Massachusetts State Police, Matt Damon plays the mole in The Departed. Most notably, Damon starred in the title role of Good Will Hunting, which he also wrote alongside Ben Affleck. The actors won an Oscar for their screenplay. From there, Damon starred in the Bourne series, as well as The Talented Mr. Ripley, Saving Private Ryan, The Informant!, Rounders, The Rainmaker, All the Pretty Horses, Syriana, The Adjustment Bureau, Contagion, We Bought a Zoo, Elysium, The Martian, Downsizing, and Ford v Ferrari. Additionally, the actor co-wrote and starred in Gerry and Promised Land, which he also produced. Damon's other film credits include Dogma, Interstellar, Behind the Candelabra, Margaret, True Grit, Thor: Ragnarok, and the Ocean's movies.

Most recently, Matt Damon provided an uncredited cameo in Steven Soderbergh's No Sudden Move. Next, the actor stars in Stillwater. Damon also co-wrote, produced, and frontlines Ridley Scott's The Last Duel. Additionally, Damon will reprise his role as Actor Loki in Thor: Love and Thunder.

Jack Nicholson (Frank Costello)

Playing the part of Frank Costello, a leering, ferocious Irish mob boss, Jack Nicholson is the main antagonist in Martin Scorsese's The Departed. One of the most acclaimed and recognizable actors alive, Nicholson won three Oscars for his leading roles in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and As Good As It Gets, as well as his supporting turn in Terms of Endearment. His other Oscar-nominated performances include Easy Rider, Five Easy Pieces, Chinatown, The Last Detail, A Few Good Men, Prizzi's Honor, Reds, Ironweed, and About Schmidt. Additionally, Nicholson played The Joker in Tim Burton's Batman.

Furthermore, Jack Nicholson's other film credits include The Shining, Something's Gotta Give, Anger Management, Carnal Knowledge, Reds, Broadcast News, and The Bucket List. The actor also directed and starred in Goin' South and The Two Jakes. Additionally, Nicholson wrote and helmed Drive, He Said and scripted Head and Thunder Island, among others. He was last seen in James L. Brooks' How Do You Know. Currently, Nicholson remains in retirement, though he has occasionally flirted with a comeback.

Mark Wahlberg (Staff Sergeant Sean Dignam)

As Sean Dignam, the Massachusetts State Police's confrontational staff sergeant, Mark Wahlberg played a bullish character with hidden secrets in The Departed. The musician-turned-actor was Oscar-nominated for this supporting turn. Previously known as Marky Mark, Wahlberg moved into acting with Renaissance Man, The Basketball Diaries, and Fear before Boogie Nights launched his career into movie stardom. Wahlberg was also Oscar-nominated for producing The Fighter, which he also starred in. His other movie credits include Lone Survivor, Shooter, I Heart Huckabees, Three Kings, The Perfect Storm, The Other Guys, Ted 1 & 2, Transformers: Age of Extinction, Transformers: The Last Knight, Daddy's Home 1 & 2, Instant Family, Deepwater Horizon, and Pain & Gain.

Most recently, Mark Wahlberg starred in and produced Paramount+'s Infinite. Next, he'll be seen in Joe Bell, which he also produced. Additionally, Wahlberg will play Victor Sullivan in Uncharted. Currently, he's filming Stu, which he also produced. Also, the A-list actor is working on Arthur the King.

Martin Sheen (Captain Oliver “Charlie” Queenan)

In the role of Captain Oliver Queenan, i.e. "Charlie," the state captain in the Special Investigation Unit, Martin Sheen is a prominent player in Martin Scorsese's The Departed. An Emmy-winning actor for his guest star appearance in Murphy Brown, Sheen is best known for playing President Josiah Bartlet in NBC's The West Wing. Additionally, the actor starred in Badlands, Apocalypse Now, The Subject Was Roses, Gettysburg, and The Way. His other film credits include The Amazing Spider-Man, Bobby, Catch Me If You Can, The American President, Wall Street, Firestarter, The Dead Zone, Gandhi, Dead Presidents, O, Selma, and Seeking a Friend for the End of the World. Outside of acting, he directed 1990's Cadence, starring his sons, Charlie and Ramón.

Additionally, on TV, Martin Sheen plays Robert Hanson in Netflix's Grace and Frankie, which is currently filming its seventh and final season. He also played John F. Kennedy in NBC's Kennedy. Most recently, Sheen was seen in Judas and the Black Messiah and 12 Mighty Orphans.

Vera Farmiga (Dr. Madolyn Madden)

Playing the part of Dr. Madolyn Madden, a psychiatrist caught in a relationship with Colin Sullivan, Vera Farmiga received one of her biggest early roles in The Departed. Most notably, Farmiga is Oscar-nominated for her supporting turn in Up in the Air. She also plays Lorraine Warren in The Conjuring movies, including Annabelle Comes Home. Additionally, Farmiga was Emmy-nominated for her lead performance as Norma Louise Bates in A&E's Bates Motel. She received a second Emmy nomination for Netflix's When They See Us. Farmiga also appeared in Running Scared, Godzilla: King of the Monsters, Source Code, and Orphan. Moreover, the actress helmed and starred in Higher Ground.

Most recently, Vera Farmiga reprised her role as Lorraine Warren in The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It. She also guest-starred in Netflix's Halston. Next, the actress will be seen in The Many Saints of Newark, The Salamander Lives Twice, and Apple TV+'s Five Days at Memorial. Also, Farmiga will play Eleanor Bishop in Disney+'s Hawkeye. Additionally, the actress is signed on to star in and produce the horror film, Bad Bloom.

Alec Baldwin (Captain George Ellerby)

As George Ellerby, the short-tempered captain of the Boston Police Department, Alec Baldwin plays a spirited character in Martin Scorsese's The Departed. Notably, Baldwin was Oscar-nominated for The Cooler. He also won two Emmys for his portrayal of Jack Donaghy in NBC's 30 Rock. Additionally, the acclaimed actor was Tony-nominated for his Off-Broadway take on Macbeth. His other film credits include Glengarry Glen Ross, The Hunt for the Red October, The Aviator, Working Girl, Beetlejuice, Working Girl, Married to the Mob, Talk Radio, Along Came Polly, Alice, It's Complicated, Miami Blues, and Pearl Harbor. Also, Baldwin co-starred in Mission: Impossible — Rogue Nation and Fallout. Furthermore, he hosts ABC's Match Game and played Donald Trump on SNL.

Most recently, Alec Baldwin reprised his titular infant voice in The Boss Baby: Family Business. Currently, the actor can be seen in Peacock's Dr. Death. Next, he'll be seen in Supercell. Baldwin is also signed on to star in The Father and Rust, which he'll produce.

Anthony Anderson (Trooper Brown)

In the role of Trooper Brown, a fellow Boston police officer, Anthony Anderson plays a supporting character in The Departed. Most notably, Anderson has received multiple Emmy nominations as the star and producer of ABC's black-ish, where he plays Dre Johnson. He reprised his role in the spinoff shows, Freeform's grown-ish and ABC's mixed-ish. Additionally, Anderson starred in The WB's All About the Andersons and the final season of Fox's The Bernie Mac Show. Furthermore, Anderson is known for his work in The Shield, Law & Order, Treme, My Wife and Kids, Shameless, and 'Til Death. Additionally, Anderson is the host of ABC's To Tell the Truth. He's also a regular judge on Food Network's Iron Chef America.

Moreover, in film, Anthony Anderson is best known for Transformers, Kangaroo Jack, Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London, Me, Myself & Irene, Scream 4, Barbershop, Malibu's Most Wanted, Hustle & Flow, Scary Movie 3, and Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle. Also, the TV actor appeared in Life, Big Momma's House, and Romeo Must Die.

Ray Winstone (Arnold “Frenchie” French)

Playing the part of Arnold French, a.k.a. "Frenchie," Frank Costello's enforcer and closest companion, Ray Winstone was a right-hand man in Martin Scorsese's The Departed. Notably, Winstone starred in Sexy Beast, Beowulf, Nil By Mouth, Quadrophenia, Scum, Love, Honour, and Obey, Ripley's Game, Tracker, The Sweeney, Ashes, Jawbone, The Hot Potato, and 44 Inch Chest. His other notable film credits include Hugo, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, London Boulevard, Point Break (2015), Fool's Gold, Cats, Rango, Noah, Snow White and the Huntsman, Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll, King Arthur, Cold Mountain, Breaking and Entering, The Proposition, Edge of Darkness, King of Thieves, That Summer, and The Gunman.

Additionally, on television, Ray Winstone led ITV's Lenny Blue and Vincent. Her other TV credits include Robin of Sherwood, Ben Hur, Moonfleet, Great Expectations, The Trials of Jimmy Rose, Of Knights and Prophets, and Ice. Most recently, Winstone chewed the scenery as the villainous Dreykov in Marvel's Black Widow. Currently, the actor is filming a role in Prizefighter: The Life of Jem Belcher.

Kevin Corrigan (Sean Costigan)

As Sean Costigan, Billy's drug-dealing cousin, Kevin Corrigan provides a notable cameo in The Departed. Most notably, Corrigan played Uncle Eddie in Fox/The WB's Grounded For Life. His other TV credits include Fringe, Damages, The Get Down, Blue Bloods, Ray Donovan, Portlandia, Law & Order: SVU, Pearl, Community, Californication, Freaks and Geeks, and The Black Donnellys. Additionally, away from television, Corrigan can be seen in Slums of Beverly Hills, Goodfellas, Superbad, Pineapple Express, Big Fan, True Romance, Seven Psychopaths, Walking and Talking, Results, Henry Fool, Delirious, American Gangster, Please Give, Steal This Movie!, The Dictator, and The King of Staten Island. He also co-wrote and starred in Kicked in the Head.

Furthermore, Kevin Corrigan's other film credits include Knight of Cups, Unstoppable, Definitely Maybe, Lonesome Jim, Trees Lounge, True Romance, The Exorcist III, Detroit Rock City, The Next Three Days, Bad Boys, and Chelsea Walls. Most recently, the actor starred in Scenes from an Empty Church. Next, Corrigan will be seen in Montauk and American Murderer. He's also expected to play Frank Sinatra in The Playboy Interview.

The Departed is available to stream on Netflix and HBO Max.

After five years in the dark, Ed and Lorraine Warren are back on the big screen for another Conjuring movie, and a ton of horror fans have been tuning in. The latest installment in the Warner Bros universe James Wan began back in 2013 explores the true story of a 1981 exorcism and the first American murder trial to claim demonic possession as a defense. So what did the fans think of The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It?

Before we get into the social media reactions of the people who have been watching it in theaters and on HBO Max across the past week, it should be noted that critics were mixed overall about The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It. CinemaBlend’s own Eric Eisenberg called the film a “middle-of-the-pack” entry into the horror franchise. Now let’s get into what fans are talking about the most regarding the new release.

Fans Were Caught Up In The Warren’s Love Story

For starters, it sounds like a ton of fans were just happy to be back in the world that started with The Conjuring’s Ed and Lorraine Warren. Despite the story itself not being as chilling as the first two movies directed by James Wan, people really held onto the relationship at the core of the franchise played by Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson:

The American paranormal investigators are based on a real couple, and they once again prove to be the strongest link through the Conjuring trilogy with The Devil Made Me Do It. In the movie, Ed and Lorraine share some adorable sequences together that showcase their love story, which even has some fans taking notes:

Watching the couple’s shared chemistry and shared love for one another really struck a chord with fans of the franchise. One fan even felt like the romance element of the movie overshadowed the horror of it all. It goes to show how important good casting is. Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga really sell the Warren’s story with their performances, and no matter what, some fans are solely hooked as long as they are the stars:

Ok, ok… but what about the scares! Did audiences make it through it?

Conjuring 3 Just Wasn’t Scary Enough For Many Fans

The first two Conjuring films were always going to be a tough act to follow. Both films were incredibly scary and unforgettably so. When it came to The Devil Made Me Do It, fans of the franchise were disappointed by how tame it was when it came to the scare factor. Much of it acts as more of a mystery thriller than anything else, as the Warrens track down clues during the investigation into the haunted house.

You certainly won’t leave the film without being exposed to the demonic possession, satanic curses and creepy moments with the Warrens. Even so, quite a number of people cited being pretty unamused or not scared enough by the events that take place throughout the film:

To each their own obviously. What may scare me may not scare you, but as a whole, it seems pretty clear that in the scope of Conjuring movies, audiences have seen some more terrifying stuff:

The Conjuring 3 attempted to tackle something new with its vision, and it didn’t rub everyone the right way, but some fans were definitely still freaked out by the summer release.

Screams Were Still Had During The Devil Made Me Do It

Now either the people above were lying or there’s a huge split regarding Conjuring 3 being scary enough. Some fans started the movie at home and just couldn’t take the suspense. One fan admitted to turning it off out of fear about where it was going:

Hey, if it got you, good! That’s why we step into horror movies, isn’t it? Lots of other fans shared their real time reactions to the flick, one sharing all the screaming they went through because of it:

I know, talk about some whiplash over here from Conjuring fans, but it goes to show that even if it wasn’t scary enough, it still earned its stripes in the horror genre. It’s definitely a bit more muted and mysterious than the previous chapters, but it even kept some people up the night they watched it:

Hey, so if you haven’t seen it yet, this is your fair warning to maybe not press play too late in the evening. Perhaps bring a friend/date when you go out to see it or keep a comfy critter by your side.

The End Credit Footage Freaked Everyone Out

While the scariness of the movie overall is debatable, one element of The Conjuring 3 that was definitely terrifying was the end credits. When the credits roll after the actual movie, an audio recording from the true events the movie is based on is on full display. Audiences can hear people talking to a demon, demanding that it leave their young son alone. Fans are making sure people know about the chilling movie highlight:

During the recording, you can also hear the boy who was apparently under demonic possession laughing maniacally and talking in a creepy deep voice. We’re used to seeing exorcisms play out in movies, but an actual recording is super unsettling. As one fan said:

Those who were not exactly moved by the content of the movie were definitely shaking in their boots over the audio footage, and it redeemed the scare factor for them. An element such as this could be disappointing when you’re indifferent about the events of the film, but then the end credits freak you out the most. Perhaps they should have drew more from the events and/or hit us with that clip earlier:

Lots of discourse around The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It this past week! Where do you stand regarding the movie? Vote in our poll below and check out what other movies are next this summer with CinemaBlend’s 2021 movie release schedule.

This poll is no longer available.

While the main draw of the movies in the Conjuring Universe may be the demon-centric scares, what makes the franchise exceptional is the presence of Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga. As Ed and Lorraine Warren, the two actors have spectacular chemistry – their characters’ work as paranormal investigators being a regular demonstration of love conquering evil – and that has been a key component to the series standing out during what has been a terrific era for the horror genre. They make it look effortless… and it turns out the reason for that is because it really is.

As featured in the video at the top of this article, I had the pleasure of interviewing Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga recently during the virtual press day for The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It. This now being the fourth time that they’ve played the Warrens on screen, I asked them about the conversations that they have about their characters’ relationships while preparing for filming, and the short answer is that they don’t really have any. As Farmiga explained,

Following up on Vera Farmiga’s comments, Patrick Wilson acknowledged that there is a special quality to the relationship between Ed and Lorraine Warren on screen in the Conjuring movies, and a lot of that comes from little moments and gestures shared between the two characters. Some of them come right from the script, and others come from ideas conceived on set, but Wilson says that they aren’t accidental:

Anyone who has seen a Conjuring movie can attest that Ed and Lorraine Warren have seen their relationship tested by evil and death, but, as Patrick Wilson continued to explain, their bond isn’t simply forged in crisis. There are more dimensions to it, and that’s something that is not only important to have in a romance at the heart of a horror movie, but any romance in any story. Said Wilson,

Fans of Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga will be able to see the two stars back in action as Ed and Lorraine Warren, as Michael Chaves’ The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It will be arriving in theaters nationwide and streaming on HBO Max starting tomorrow, June 4. This time around the two protagonists won’t be creeping around another haunted house, but instead will be on an investigation, and it is arguably the darkest chapter in the franchise yet.

Horror fans, are you ready? The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, the eighth installment in the Conjuring universe franchise and the third Conjuring movie, is almost here. Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson reprise their roles as paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. Based on the real-life trial of Arne Cheyenne Johnson, it starts with a fight for the soul of a young boy, then takes the Warrens beyond anything they’ve ever seen before, to mark the first time a murder suspect claims demonic possession as a defense. The supernatural flick was directed by Michael Chaves and the cast also features Ruairi O'Connor, Sarah Catherine Hook, Julian Hilliard, and John Noble.

The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It releases in theaters and simultaneously on HBO Max on June 4. We already saw critics’ reactions on social media, but now they’ve started releasing their official reviews, so let’s check them out.

Let’s start, as always, with the home team. CinemaBlend’s Eric Eisenberg rated The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It three out of five stars, enjoying some aspects of the movie while not enjoying others. He praised the lead duo of Wilson and Farmiga, calling them “effortlessly charismatic” and “phenomenal,” and also applauded the truly scary aspects of the horror flick. But he argued that the problems with the film revolve around the unfocused plot. Eisenberg said:

Kate Erbland from IndieWire echoed Eisenberg’s praise of Wilson and Farmiga, noting that the duo’s dedication nearly makes up for the lack of human drama elsewhere. Erbland criticized the muddling and messy story, and though she did enjoy a few “smart” scares, she argued that the different locations and experiences in the movie are so obviously scary that they, in fact, become boring instead. She said:

Anna Bogutskaya of Little White Lies also enjoyed that The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It featured a lot of the lead duo portraying the Warrens, but she thought the actual horror aspect of the horror movie was lacking. Bogutskaya said that it’s hard to care much about the characters being affected by evil (unless it’s the Warrens) because we don’t get to know those characters enough. She said:

David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter had a few more positive things to say about The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It. He praised Farmiga and Wilson (definitely sensing a pattern), as well as Joseph Bishara’s score and Michael Burgess’ cinematography. But he, like other critics above, argued that the story became too messy and silly. He thought that the script failed to build the plot from a solid center, and it became too busy, with too many competing elements. Rooney said:

Deadline’s Pete Hammond enjoyed The Conjuring 3. He, like every aforementioned critic, praised the superb chemistry between Farmiga and Wilson, as well as O’Connor’s performance as Arne Johnson. He also commended the genuine horror that held his attention throughout the whole film. Hammond said:

Well, there you have it, folks. Critics are praising the lead couple of Farmiga and Wilson across the board, and I for one can't wait to see them in action. Will audiences enjoy their performances as much as these critics have? We only have a few more days until we find out, since The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It releases in theaters and on HBO Max this Friday, June 4.

In the meantime, plan the rest of your summer movie-going experiences with our summer release guide!

The Hawkeye news just keeps on coming! Shortly after the MCU-set Jeremy Renner series was confirmed to include Hailee Steinfeld as Kate Bishop, a slew of other stars have been announced to appear in Hawkeye. Viewers can count on seeing another existing Marvel star courtesy of the upcoming Black Widow movie, a Better Call Saul familiar face, and more notable names when the show premieres.

Check out who's on the way, according to Variety, to join Jeremy Renner and Hailee Steinfeld in Hawkeye, and keep on reading for what we know so far about their roles!

These casting announcements come after a long news dry spell when little was known or confirmed about Hawkeye other than that it was in the works to continue the story of an arguably underrated Avenger with Jeremy Renner as star, especially compared to all the news surrounding WandaVision and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, which had already entered production.

Florence Pugh

Florence Pugh, who received an Oscar nomination for her role as Amy March in 2019 for Little Women, will reprise her role as Black Widow’s assassin/spy Yelena Belova, although Black Widow has yet to debut as a feature film due to delays. Black Widow is currently expected to premiere in May 2021, with Hawkeye presumably hitting Disney+ afterward at some point.

Tony Dalton

Tony Dalton is likely best known for his Better Call Saul role as Lalo Salamanca, and he’ll play a Hawkeye character who has yet to appear in the MCU. Called Jack Duquesne and presumably an adaptation of a Marvel Comics character known as Swordsman, he was an early mentor to Hawkeye. Considering Dalton, age 45, is actually younger than 49-year-old Jeremy Renner, Dalton will presumably appear via flashback if he is playing Hawkeye’s mentor, unless he will serve as a mentor to Kate rather than Clint.

Vera Farmiga

Vera Farmiga is another Oscar-nominated actress to join Hawkeye, thanks to her role in Up in the Air (2009), and played a haunting character in A&E’s Bates Motel opposite Freddie Highmore. Her character will have a key connection to Kate Bishop, playing her mother Eleanor Bishop for Hawkeye.

Fra Fee

Fra Fee is a Les Miserables (now available streaming on Netflix) alum who likely won’t be bursting into miserable song for Hawkeye, although not much is confirmed about his new MCU role. He is playing a character currently known only as Kazi; the name is presumably short for a Marvel Comics villain named Kazimierz Kazimierczak, known on the pages of comics as Clown.

Alaqua Cox

Alaqua Cox is a newcomer to television, and her debut role could be a big one. She plays Maya Lopez, a.k.a. Marvel Comics’ Echo, who is a deaf Native American with the ability to perfectly copy the movements of another person. Assuming the show follows the same path, she could be at the center of some serious action.

Zahn McClarnon

Finally, we have Zahn McClarnon, known for Fargo, Westworld, and Doctor Sleep, among others. He will play a character by the name of William Lopez for Hawkeye, who is expected to be the MCU version of Marvel Comics Willie “Crazy Horse” Lincoln, who also happens to be Maya’s father.

And there we have the confirmed cast members who will join Jeremy Renner and Hailee Steinfeld for the upcoming show! It's possible that more announcements are on the way, but this is actually a more thorough cast list than might have been expected from a Marvel show, especially compared to WandaVision and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Hawkeye has started production in New York, which resulted in Steinfeld's role as Kate Bishop hitting the web, so perhaps getting ahead of potential spoilers was the best way to go.

Hawkeye will join plenty of other Marvel content on Disney+, including some original series once WandaVision premieres in January 2021, hopefully followed by The Falcon and the Winter Soldier later in the year. For some additional upcoming viewing options, be sure to check out our 2021 winter and spring premiere schedule.

With 20 seasons, Law and Order is one of the longest running dramas of all-time. It spun several spin-offs, including--the still going strong--Law and Order: SVU. Law and Order helped make procedural dramas more popular and it made the cast very recognizable. It even launched the career of some very famous Hollywood names.

In September of 2020, Law and Order celebrates its 30-year premiere anniversary. Part of what made the series successful was its episodic nature. Each episode felt like a contained show, movie, or play. Turn on any Law and Order episode to enjoy actors bringing intense drama, stunning intrigue, and a dash of deception. With Law and Order: SVU still on the air and Dick Wolf’s shows continuing to dominate television, Law and Order remains a coveted gig for up and coming actors.

Claire Danes

In 1992, two years before My So Called Life would air, Claire Danes landed her first major acting gig: an episode of Law and Order. Claire Danes’ Law and Order episode was the Season 3 premiere. She was barely a teen on her Law and Order episode where she played a 15-year-old tied into a secret prostitution ring. Her displaying so much talent at such a young age likely helped Claire Danes’ accelerate her acting career.

The short-lived My So Called Life gave Claire Danes’ career a major boost. She then went on to star in many motion pictures, including Romeo + Juliet, The Hours, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, and Stardust. Danes gained even more recognition and praise in 2011 when she landed the lead role of Carrie Mathison in Homeland. But before all of that, she was on Law & Order.

Adam Driver

Adam Driver appeared in Law and Order in 2010, during Law and Order’s final season (Season 20, Episode 15) “Brilliant Disguise.” This Law and Order role came two years prior to him landing his breakout Girls role. Law and Order was one of Adam Driver’s first screen roles. In his episode he played a lab technician accused of murdering a secret escort. He had theater roles before Law and Order, but he had only appeared on one TV show and a short film before the police drama. Appearing on such a massively popular show might have help give him the confidence to audition for even bigger roles.

Since 2009, Adam Driver has taken on a variety of stage and screen roles. He has blended big blockbuster performances, like his role as Kylo Ren in the new Star Wars trilogy, with an array of arthouse film projects like Frances Ha, BlacKkKlansman, and The Report. Adam Driver had a very successful 2019, appearing in the critically acclaimed Marriage Story, and receiving his first Best Lead Actor Academy Award nomination for the same film.

Sam Rockwell

Sam Rockwell played two different characters in multiple episodes of Law and Order. His first episode was Season 2's “Intolerance,” and his second episode was Season 3" 21st episode, “Manhood.” in "Manhood," Rockwell plays an officer who doesn't show up when a fellow officer needs him. This leads to that officer's death and accusations of homophobia on their police force. In "Intolerance," he plays a member of a family accused of murdering a Chinese-American student to help one of the boys win a science award. Sam Rockwell had at least a dozen screen roles before appearing in Law and Order. However, it was still quite early in his career. Rockwell had only been consistently booking gigs for four years when he had his Law and Order premiere.

Since the early '90s, Sam Rockwell has forged a very diverse acting career--appearing in major motion pictures like The Green Mile, Charlie’s Angels, Iron Man 2, and Seven Psychopaths. In 2018, Sam Rockwell won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. He has also appeared in three recent Academy Award nominated movies, Vice, Richard Jewell, and Jojo Rabbit. In 2019, Sam Rockwell also appeared in the limited series Fosse/Verdon.

Sebastian Stan

Sebastian Stan had only appeared in one thing prior to his Law and Order debut in 2003. He appeared in Season 13's “Sheltered.” In the episode, Stan played a boy abducted and raised by his abuser. Modern Family’s Ty Burrell played his abuser. This role led to a steady stream of small roles until he landed his 2007 Gossip Girl role.

Sebastian Stan appeared in the hit TV series Gossip Girl and Once Upon a Time. However, most people know him for his roles in the Marvel movie franchise. Sebastian Stan plays Bucky Barnes aka The Winter Soldier. He’s been playing Bucky Barnes in the Marvel franchise since 2011, and later this year he’ll have his own Disney+ and Marvel series, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.

Samuel L. Jackson

Samuel L. Jackson appeared on Law and Order Season 1, Episode 14, “The Violence of Summer" as Defense Attorney Louis Taggert. He had only made limited television appearances before his Law and Order episode. However, he had already been appearing in films for nearly 20 years before the show. Samuel L Jackson at least appeared in over fifteen films from 1972 to 1992, including films like Do The Right Thing, Coming to America, and Jungle Fever. It was definitely not a career-making role, but it was before Samuel L. Jackson became one of the most recognized names in cinema.

Samuel L. Jackson has appeared in nearly 200 films and television shows. His most famous work includes the Marvel movies, The Incredibles, the Star Wars prequels, Kill Bill II, The Long Kiss Goodnight, Pulp Fiction, and School Daze.

Sarah Paulson

In 1994, Law and Order was Sarah Paulson’s first screen acting gig. She appeared in Season 5, Episode 4, “Family Values.” Sarah Paulson played a teen who claimed that she was having an affair with her murdered mother’s new husband. A year later, she landed a series regular role on American Gothic.

Sarah Paulson appeared in Bird Box, Ocean’s Eight, The Goldfinch, and Glass, but most people know her from her work with Ryan Murphy. Sarah Paulson has appeared in most seasons of American Horror Story and a few seasons of American Crime Story. Ryan Murphy and Paulson also will team up once again for a Netflix series about the infamous One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest character Nurse Ratched.

Ellen Pompeo

Law and Order was Ellen Pompeo’s first TV gig. She appeared in Season 6, Episode 16, “Savior” and Season 10's “Fools for Love.” The first episode involved a case about a man being accused of murdering his wife and son. The Season 10 episode involved a man accused of killing and raping his girlfriend’s sister and another victim. Prior to her first Law and Order episode, Ellen Pompeo had only appeared in one short film. She had a few movies and TV roles before her 2000 return to Law and Order.

Grey’s Anatomy fans best know Ellen Pompeo for her lead role as Dr. Meredith Grey. She has also appeared in Life of the Party, Friends, and Catch Me If You Can.

Allison Janney

Allison Janney had appeared on As the World Turns and Morton & Hayes along with a few movies before making her Law and Order appearances. She appeared in 1992 and 1994. The first episode Season 2, Episode 12, “Star Struck,” and the second episode was Season 4's “Old Friends.” In "Old Friends," Allison Janney plays a character scared to testify about a murder because it could lead to dangerous consequences for her. In "Star Struck," she plays someone interviewed about a murdered soap opera actress.

Allison Janney is an Academy Award and Emmy winning actress. She has appeared on hit series and critically acclaimed movies; her list of work includes 10 Things I Hate About You, The Hours, Finding Nemo, The West Wing, Masters of Sex, I, Tonya, and Mom.

Emmy Rossum

Emmy Rossum appeared on Law and Order when she was only a preteen. She played a young girl who became the target of a female circumcision. This Law and Order episode, "Ritual," aired during Season 8. This was Emmy Rossum’s first TV acting gig, but the following year she would appear in several screen projects.

Emmy Rossum is best known for her role as Fiona Gallagher in Shameless. She has also appeared in the films Mystic River, The Day After Tomorrow, and The Phantom of the Opera.

Vera Farmiga

Vera Farmiga appeared in Law and Order Season 8, Episode 12, “Expert.” She plays a character accused of trying to murder an expert witness in her father’s case. Prior to Law and Order, Farmiga had only appeared in two other on-screen things. One was a short lived TV show starring Heath Ledger called Roar and the other a TV movie called Rose Hill.

Vera Farmiga is an Academy Award nominated actress, best known for her role as Nora Bates in Bates Motel. Vera Farmiga has also appeared in Up in the Air, The Conjuring series, When They See Us, and The Departed.

Philip Seymour Hoffman

Philip Seymour Hoffman made his screen debut with Law and Order. He appeared in Season 1, Episode 14, “The Violence of Summer.” He plays one of the men involved in a rape case. Samuel L. Jackson also appeared in this episode.

Philip Seymour Hoffman was an Academy Award winning actor who appeared in The Hunger Games movies, The Master, Almost Famous, Doubt, and Capote. He won his Best Lead Actor Academy Award for his role in Capote, and he received three Best Supporting Actor nominations for The Master, Doubt, and Charlie Wilson’s War.

Law and Order is available to rent or buy on most major streaming platforms, including Amazon Prime Video. Law and Order’s most successful spin-off, Law and Order: SVU, is currently airing season 21 on NBC. Hulu has all seasons of Law and Order: SVU available to stream. Stream it HERE.

For those with less free time on their hands, it may come as a surprise to hear that Godzilla’s sex is actually the source of much speculation and fierce debate. Is the monster that has been gracing cinema screens for 65 years male, female, or perhaps something else entirely? With Godzilla: King of the Monsters now in theaters, it is only natural that the cast of the latest film weighs in on this important topic and you’ll see that Vera Farmiga and Kyle Chandler had differing views.

I love that these two have such strong opinions on the topic of Godzilla’s sex and have actually given it some thought. Like Jason Lee’s Brodie Bruce discussing superhero sex organs in Mallrats, people want to know what parts this fictional monster has and how they work. Kyle Chandler and Vera Farmiga both make valid points too.

Vera Farmiga applies Occam’s Razor, opting for the simplest answer, which is that king is usually a title given to a male monarch or sovereign and because Godzilla is the King of the Monsters he is therefore male. If he was a female he would be Queen of the Monsters. But since that position is taken by Mothra, and there aren’t two queens, the logical assumption is that Godzilla is a dude-monster.

Kyle Chandler, however, views this argument as dealing only in semantics. And he isn’t allowing labels like ‘king’ and ‘queen’ to narrow his understanding of Godzilla’s sex. Instead he thinks there’s a solid chance that Godzilla is a girl, but he isn’t willing to deal in absolutes and is still puzzling out the question in his head.

The ever-relatable Kyle Chandler even told Yahoo Entertainment that he had a whole conversation with his wife about the subject. Which is quite hilarious to think about Emmy award-winning actor Kyle Chandler having a conversation with his wife over breakfast about the sex of a fictional giant lizard. Celebrities folks, they’re just like us.

He makes an interesting point about where baby Godzilla came from. Now if he’s talking about 1967’s Son of Godzilla, the creature Minilla was adopted by Godzilla and was not his actual progeny.

But the question can be viewed another way, as in where did the Godzilla in the film come from? If Godzilla had a mother it is possible that Godzilla too is female. These are titans and their evolution and biology are not fully understood, so it isn’t necessarily as simple as, to paraphrase Jurassic Park’s Dr. Ian Malcolm, just pulling up Godzilla’s skirt to check.

There’s also the possibility that Godzilla isn’t strictly male or female. Maybe he’s asexual like dragons in Game of Thrones are suspected to be, and he can be whatever he needs to be. Vera Farmiga raises this possibility by mentioning his amphibian traits.

So maybe Godzilla uses asexual reproduction like the parthenogenesis seen in some frogs and salamanders. Or maybe he can spontaneously change his sex like some frogs. There are also slugs with both sex organs, and some rare instances of birds and butterflies born half male and half female. Basically there are lots of possibilities if you want to apply real world biology to a fictional creature.

King of the Monsters actor Ken Watanabe refers to Godzilla as a ‘he’ and director Michael Dougherty also says that the monster is a boy-- so Vera Farmiga seems to be in the majority. For what it’s worth, the original Japanese films referred to him as an ‘it’ and the original actor who played him, Haruo Nakajima, said he had no idea of the creature’s sex.

Male or female, Godzilla makes the case for his kingship in Godzilla: King of the Monsters, now playing. Check out what ticket to buy and our 2019 Release Schedule for all of this year’s biggest movies. For the latest movie news and further deep dives into the sexuality of fictitious creatures, stay tuned to CinemaBlend.

Godzilla has been a pop culture icon for decades, but when it comes to fully American productions centered around the monster, there have only been two undertakings. The first, in 1998, did not fare well either critically or commercially, thus eliminating any plans to spawn a series. Fortunately, the 2014 reboot was better received, ranking at 74% on Rotten Tomatoes and collecting nearly $530 million worldwide. With a performance like that, it's understandable that shortly after the movie's release, a sequel was ordered: Godzilla 2, officially titled Godzilla: King of the Monsters. Godzilla has led multiple movies in Japan, but this marks the first time in the United States that the giant reptile's adventures will continue past one movie.

Godzilla: King of the Monsters (which was shot in Atlanta, Georgia) is finally upon us, and there's a fair amount of information to chew on concerning the sequel if you can't get out to see it right away, or aren't sure if you want to continue this journey with the Titans. That's why we've created this handy guide so you can browse through what's been announced about the blockbuster, from when it's coming out to who's working on it both on and off camera to how it will connect to a grander shared universe filled with other giant and powerful monsters.

What Have We Seen From Godzilla: King Of The Monsters?

Luckily, we've had plenty of trailers and teasers for the new blockbuster at this point, which show off some of the crazy destruction, massive action sequences and intense Titan fights that we'll be treated to on the big screen. As you can see above, the final trailer shows us just how bad things are, and how much we need Godzilla to help protect us against some of the other Titans.

What Is The Godzilla: King Of The Monsters Release Date?

Thankfully for Godzilla fans, the scheduling changes for Godzilla: King of the Monsters haven't been too drastic. It was originally supposed to come out on June 8, 2018, but after Legendary Entertainment moved production of Kong: Skull Island from Universal to Warner Bros., the giant ape was deemed to be the priority. Godzilla: King of the Monsters was subsequently moved to March 22, 2019. Now it's set for release on May 31, 2019, putting it up against Rocketman and Ma that opening weekend. As far as overall May competition goes, there's a lot packed in, including Detective Pikachu, John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum and Aladdin. But, when you're opening in the first summer movie month, thats expected.

What Is The Godzilla: King Of The Monsters Rating?

Godzilla: King of the Monsters finally got its official rating from the MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America) a few weeks back. And, it did get the rating that was expected, which is the same one that Godzilla did: PG-13. The 2014 blockbuster was rated that way for "intense sequences of destruction, mayhem and creature violence," and Godzilla: King of the Monsters will feature the same elements. So, this is a movie that can also be enjoyed by younger fans...but not too young. PG-13 is right in the sweet spot. Plus, that's what fellow MonsterVerse (more on that later) entry Kong: Skull Island was rated, too.

Who Is The Godzilla: King Of The Monsters Director?

Gareth Edwards' directing credits include End Day and Monster, but Godzilla was the blockbuster that earned him widespread recognition. The original plan was for him to return for Godzilla: King of the Monsters after helming Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. However, in May 2016, it was announced that Edwards would no longer direct the sequel, as he wanted to step back from overseeing big productions and focus on smaller-scale projects. It wasn't until January 2017 that his replacement was hired: Michael Dougherty, the man who directed Trick 'r Treat and Krampus. But that isn't the only way he's involved in the sequel...

Who Are The Godzilla: King Of The Monsters Writers?

Months before Michael Dougherty had been tapped to direct Godzilla: King of the Monsters, he had already been brought aboard to co-write the flick with Zach Shields. They succeed Godzilla screenwriter, Max Borenstein, who was originally supposed to return, but later dropped out. Dougherty's notable writing credits include X2: X-Men United and Superman Returns, while Zach Shields has previously worked with Dougherty on Krampus. Given the horror background these two have, there's a distinct chance that Godzilla: King of the Monsters will have scarier elements, though not to the point that the movie will rest comfortably in the horror genre. To be fair, watching a giant fire-breathing monster destroy cities is scary enough, but perhaps there will be added suspense to make Godzilla: King of the Monsters more captivating. A good sequel retains what made the first movie work so well, but also incorporates new material to keep things fresh.

What Is Godzilla: King Of The Monsters About?

Well, we're in big trouble now. After the events of 2014's Godzilla, even more of the Titans began to wake up and come out of their hiding places, leaving massive destruction in their wake. At the start of Godzilla: King of the Monsters, 17 of these dangerous beasts have come forward (with more expected to surface soon), with those who work at the crypto-zoological agency Monarch realizing that they're moving as a pack and following a leader.

That leader just so happens to the the three-headed monster King Ghidorah, ancient nemesis of Godzilla. We need to take out Ghidorah to get the rest of the awakened Titans to stop their reigns of terror, and, guess who seems like the best hope for that?

After defeating the MUTOs (Massive Unidentified Terrestrial Organisms) that were the "real" villains of the first film, Godzilla rested in the rubble from his giant battle for a bit and then returned to the sea. Unfortunately, humanity isn't having much luck fighting back against these nearly indestructible creatures, so we hatch a plan to locate Godzilla's ocean-floor hiding place, wake him up and get him to, once again, fight the good fight against his fellow Titans as we do everything we can to help out.

Though, I have to say, bothering a creature like Godzilla seems like a bad idea that could easily wipe out a chunk of a country's military force and /or population should he wake up on the wrong side of his monster bed.

Who Are The New Godzilla: King Of The Monsters Characters?

The first actor who was cast for Godzilla: King of the Monsters was Millie Bobby Brown. She's best known for her breakout role as Eleven, nicknamed "El," on the Netflix series Stranger Things. In the show, she plays a telekinetic girl who was kept in a government laboratory, experimented on, and who was soon revealed to be able to make contact with the alternate dimension unofficially known as the "Upside Down." So yeah, Brown is well-versed in the realms of sci-fi and horror.

Brown will play Madison Russell, and be one of the central characters in Godzilla: King of the Monsters, along with two other newcomers: Kyle Chandler and Vera Farmiga, who will play her parents Dr. Mark Russell and Dr. Emma Russell, who are both working to stop the Titans. Aside from the obvious danger involved in living under the conditions found in the film, there will be other familial strife for the Russell's. Chandler recently revealed that one of the reasons his character hates the Titans is that "they caused havoc with my family," and it seems like a great loss came from that havoc.

The other new cast members include Ziyi Zhang (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) as Dr. Ilene Chen, Bradley Whitford (The West Wing, Get Out) as Dr. Rick Stanton, Charles Dance (Game of Thrones) as Jonah Alan, Thomas Middleditch (Silicon Valley) as Sam Coleman, Aisha Hinds (9-1-1) as Colonel Diane Foster, O'Shea Jackson Jr. (Straight Outta Compton) as Chief Warrant Officer Barnes and Anthony Ramos (A Star Is Born) as Staff Sergeant Martinez. As you can probably tell from all the doctors and military personnel in that lineup, all of these new characters seem to be actively helping Monarch stop the Titans.

Who Are The Returning Godzilla Characters?

So far, only three of the actors who appeared in 2014's Godzilla have been confirmed to return for the sequel. Aaron Taylor-Johnson said back in 2015 that he was unsure if he'd be back, and that it would depend on whether director Gareth Edwards stuck around or not. Seeing as how Edwards did not return to the Godzilla fold, we can probably expect that Taylor-Johnson won't be around, even in a small capacity. That will likely also leave out any appearance by Elizabeth Olsen's Elle Brody (we've certainly not seen either of them in any of the trailers), but it turns out that Ken Watanabe's Dr. Ishiro Serizawa will be back.

Ishiro was the main representative from Monarch, the organization that studies Earth's monsters. Given how Monarch is the main connective thread of the MonsterVerse (more on that in the next section). Not only does Ishiro have experience studying Godzilla, but he can hopefully provide insight on the new monsters that emerge. Hopefully, Ishiro will become what Nick Fury and Phil Coulson are / were to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He's not the focus, but he's integral to shedding light on these mysterious beings.

The other returning characters / actors are Sally Hawkins (The Shape of Water) as Dr. Vivienne Graham and David Strathairn (The Blacklist, Billions) as Admiral William Stenz. While it would have been nice to see how the Brody family was faring after everything they went through in the first film, their story was wrapped up pretty well, so it was never necessary for them to show up again. It makes a lot of sense then, that the action of Godzilla: King of the Monsters would find another family to focus on amid all the Titan uproar, and the film is doing just that.

How Does The MonsterVerse Fit Into Godzilla: King Of The Monsters?

When 2014's Godzilla came out, it was a self-contained story that left room for a sequel later down the line. That's standard for many blockbusters, especially ones based on existing intellectual property. But with the rising popularity of cinematic universes, thanks to Marvel, Warner Bros. decided they wanted in on the action. Legendary Entertainment had already acquired the rights to creatures like Mothra, Rodan and King Ghidorah after Godzilla was released, and in September 2015, it was announced that Kong: Skull Island would be developed at Warner Bros. instead of Universal.

The following month, it was confirmed that the giant ape lives in the same world as the fire-breathing reptile, which has been dubbed the MonsterVerse. Kong: Skull Island takes place in the early 1970s, four decades before the present day Godzilla events. However, there are several references to Monarch, which isn't surprising since it was only two decades earlier that those nuclear weapons were dropped on Godzilla.

So, what does all this mean for Godzilla: King of the Monsters? Well, whatever happens in the sequel, you can count on Godzilla not dying. The following year, on March 13, he's going up against Kong in Godzilla vs. Kong. This will be the first time these two have clashed in an American setting and Michael Dougherty, who directed King of the Monsters and also co-wrote Godzilla vs. Kong, has described the film as a “potential underdog fight,” which will see a much more mature King Kong needing to use all his primate intelligence and skills to defend himself from the massive lizard.

It stands to reason that Godzilla: King of the Monsters' ending will pave the way for this epic battle. Who knows, maybe Kong himself might make a cameo appearance. There already seems to be a major connection brewing between Kong: Skull Island and King of the Monsters that will explain how these creatures remained hidden for so long. Then there's that Skull Island after-credits scene, which teased every monster we know we're going to see in this film. It does make sense that a major tease for the next film in the MonsterVerse would come at some point during King of the Monsters, we just don't know what it might be right now.

You can head out to see Godzilla: King of the Monsters right now!

The summer movie season is underway and this week, it's Godzilla's turn to take the spotlight. The long-awaited sequel, Godzilla: King of the Monsters, arrives this weekend. The film will see Godzilla collide with other iconic kaiju like Mothra, Rodan, and Ghidorah, finally rendering these monster fights in state-of-the-art visual effects. While reviews for the sequel have been a bit middling out of the gate, King of the Monsters is still tracking for a worldwide debut of $230-$235 million.

While marketing hasn't been shy about showing off the monsters and their brawls, there are a few secrets still left to figure out. For starters, not too much is known about the plot or the human element of the film. The last thing that anyone seeing a Godzilla movie cares about are the humans, but someone needs to explain stuff in between monster fights. So, before checking out King of the Monsters this weekend, these are the five questions we still have about the sequel.

Whose Side Is Vera Farmiga On?

King of the Monsters has an all-new cast of humans, chief among them Vera Farmiga. The actress plays Emma, a scientist who has created a device that allows for communication with the Titans (ie giant monsters). While Emma is quoted in one of the trailers talking about how the Titans are the only things that can save the planet, a different trailer shows her freeing King Ghidorah from his icy prison.

Ghidorah is kind of a near limitless death machine, so that makes Emma's allegiances questionable. Is she a secret villain or did she just make a desperate decision? She also preaches for letting Godzilla loose, presumably to help clean up Ghidorah's mess, which would indicate that she's a good guy, so she's all over the map.

Also, What's Up With Charles Dance?

Speaking of questionable humans, Charles Dance looks to be set up as the human antagonist in the film. The Game of Thrones star is playing Alan Jonah, a former MI6 agent who went rogue. Apparently, he wants to use the Titans to restore the natural order. That's a pretty vague agenda, so it's not clear what he wants or why he thinks he can accomplish his goals.

Originally, fans theorized that Charles Dance's character was an older version of Tom Hiddleston's from Kong: Skull Island. However, that doesn't seem to be the case, even though it would have been a nice way to connect the MonsterVerse movies before Godzilla vs Kong. Instead he will be an all-new character and one who is evidently not on the side of humanity. It would not shock me if he's eaten before the credits roll.

Will Other Famous Godzilla Foes Appear?

Ghidorah, Mothra, and Rodan are arguable the most iconic of Godzilla's fellow monsters, but the King of Kaiju has fought plenty of more opponents in his long cinema history. However, this film is already packed with monsters, so anything more than a quick cameo is probably out of the question. There are no shortage of options for cameos and eagle-eyed Gozilla fans are sure to be looking for any detail they can find.

We do know, however, that other Titans exist in this world. The trailers make it pretty explicit that giant monsters are coming out of the woodwork, and it's not crazy to think that some of these will be recognizable to fans. If nothing else, it could offer some teases for what to expect in any potential sequels.

How Do Mothra And Rodan Factor In?

The title fight of the sequel is Godzilla vs Ghidorah, but where does that leave Mothra and Rodan? Are the two just meant to warm-up fight to get the crowd going? Are they unknown agents meant to shake things up? It's tough to see where the two fit into the picture when Godzilla has got his sights set on a certain three-headed dragon.

The two monsters have a long history in the Godzilla franchise as both allies and enemies of Godzilla. Mothra is more often than not on Godzilla's side while Rodan usually just does whatever he feels like. There's sure to be plenty of action for the two of them, but juggling their powers and entrances into the film likely wasn't an easy task.

Will There Be A King Kong Tease?

While we can only focus on what's right in front of us, we can't help but think of what this is all building to. In just one year, two of the most iconic movie monsters will fight it out in Godzilla vs Kong. King of the Monsters is the last movie before the big blockbuster, so the chances feel pretty good that there will be some king of tease for King Kong and Skull Island.

The question is: What kind of tease? Will it just be a name drop or a glimpse at some clearly labeled "Skull Island" files? Better yet, will Kong actually show up onscreen, most likely in a post credits scene? Kong hasn't been seen since Kong: Skull Island, and you better believe that the studio wants you to remember that movie as we start making our way to Godzilla vs Kong.

Based on the reviews for King of the Monsters, the plot is the main problem with this movie, and fans might not want to get obsessed with it. However, that's not exactly surprising. People don't typically go to a Godzilla movie to find out what the humans are up. They just want to see Godzilla square off against the latest threat to his kingdom, and by the sounds of it, this sequel delivers on that front. As movie fans, we just can't help wondering about the finer details, and while I'm totally there to see Godzilla blast a molten pterodactyl or a big moth or whatever, I also wouldn't mind knowing a bit more about what happens in the quieter moments.

Thankfully, we don't have to wait very long at all to find out the answer to these questions. Godzilla: King of the Monsters premieres tonight and will be available for your viewing pleasure all weekend. Stick with CinemaBlend and we'll be sure to keep you updated on everything about the movie and how it performs during its opening weekend.

The Conjuring movies have been one of the most successful horror franchises of all time, creating what is probably the most popular and successful cinematic universe that doesn't involve superheroes. While the various spin-off titles have done well at the box office, fans are really waiting for the next proper Conjuring movie, and co-star Vera Farmiga says it will be worth the wait, because the next film is simply huge.

Vera Farmiga will be reprising her role as Lorraine Warren in the next creepy doll movie, Annabelle Comes Home, and the actress says that doing so is like a form of practice, so that she's ready when it's time to take on the role in a much bigger way. According to Farmiga...

These words to EW are music to the ears of the fans of the Conjuring films. We know that David Leslie Johnson, who also wrote the script for The Conjuring 2 has been working on the screenplay for the third film and at least one of the actors involved seems to be quite excited for it.

While fans are certainly looking forward to another Conjuring film, the next movie will be different in one big way. James Wan won't be directing the project. Those duties have shifted to Michael Chaves who will be giving the audience of taste of what he's capable of doing when The Curse of La Llorona hits theaters next weekend.

The Conjuring wasn't simply a successful horror movie that was able to generate sequels, but its various elements have been able to also generate spin-off stories, making for a widely successful cinematic universe. While a couple of the films have faltered with critics, all of them have been successful with fans and have brought in remarkable box office numbers. Even The Nun, which bombed with critics hard, is the second highest grossing film in the franchise.

The Annabelle movies have been so well received that we're seeing a third movie in the creepy doll franchise before we even get to the third proper Conjuring movie. The first Annabelle film was one of those movies that didn't hit with critics, and it's at the bottom of the domestic box office chart when it comes to the larger franchise, but the sequel was a whole different animal.

The Conjuring 3 is set to arrive in the fall of 2020, so we can expect production on it to finally get underway later this year. Maybe then we'll discover just how big the new film is going to be.

Annabelle 3 is called Annabelle Comes Home, and the official trailer brings Ed (Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine Warren (Vera Farmiga) back into the mix. The trailer is also a 2 minute, 24 second warning not to make friends.

Friends will go into the room in your home that you told them not to go in. They'll touch things they shouldn't touch. They'll free a creepy doll named Annabelle. And they'll let that doll become a beacon for other spirits. Those creepy spirit friends will crash at your house and torture you with jumpscares. Then your parents will have to jump in and save the day -- again. Behold the trailer:

Mckenna Grace! She is everywhere. Maybe that should be the next Conjuring movie -- The Warrens realizing that Mckenna Grace has been cloned and that's why she's in every movie and TV show these days.

Mckenna Grace plays 10-year-old Judy Warren in Annabelle Comes Home, the seventh movie in The Conjuring Universe. It's a sequel to the 2014 movie Annabelle, which was a spinoff from The Conjuring. This movie also follows the prequel Annabelle: Creation.

James Wan, who directed the first two Conjuring movies, produced Annabelle Comes Home. Because the Warrens are in this film and the doll returns to their home, Wan said the movie feels like a new Conjuring film.

Here's the synopsis from New Line Cinema:

In addition to McKenna Grace (Captain Marvel) as Judy -- who appears to have inherited her mother's gifts; Madison Iseman (Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle) stars as Judy's babysitter, Mary Ellen; and Katie Sarife (Supernatural) plays Judy's troubled friend Daniela. This appears to be Daniela's fault, since she touched everything in the artifact room and set this all in motion. Then again, you could also blame the Warrens for keeping all that dangerous supernatural stuff in their own home.

Gary Dauberman -- who wrote the previous Annabelle films, IT, and The Nun -- made his directorial debut with this movie.

The Conjuring Universe is pushing movies out as fast as the DCEU and MCU these days. Before we see Annabelle Comes Home this June, we have the sixth film in the Conjuring Universe -- The Curse of La Llorona. That one is only tangentially connected to the world, but it does have an Annabelle link.

After Annabelle 3, we have The Conjuring 3 coming out in September 2020. That is being directed by Michael Chaves, who also directed The Curse of La Llorona. Aquaman director James Wan is now too busy to direct Conjuring movies, but he's still a producer in this world. After Conjuring 3 comes out, we should get more updates on The Crooked Man, which should be next.

Annabelle Comes Home will open in theaters (and IMAX) on June 28, 2019, as one of the many films to look forward to in 2019.

As the first horror cinematic universe, The Conjuring franchise is bound together by two key characters: Ed and Lorraine Warren, based off the same-named, real-life paranormal investigators. The main Conjuring movies have focused on two of the couple's famous cases, while the Conjuring spinoffs have delved deeper into the backgrounds of the some of the entities they've faced. Up to this point, the Warrens themselves haven't appeared in any of these spinoffs, but that's finally going to change with the upcoming Annabelle 3.

This past summer at San Diego Comic-Con, it was announced that Annabelle 3 would see the eponymous doll ending up in Ed and Lorraine's hands and not just terrorizing their daughter, Judy, but also having an effect on the house's other cursed objects. At the time, it was implied that this would mean the Warrens would appear, and Deadline has now confirmed that Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson will reprise their respective characters.

This will mark Ed and Lorraine Warren's third appearance in the Conjuring franchise, as The Conjuring 3 isn't arriving until September 2020, a year after Annabelle 3. However, rather than being the main characters like in their earlier appearances, the Warrens will be supporting characters in Annabelle 3, as this their daughter's time to shine.

The Annabelle doll was introduced at the beginning of The Conjuring (set in 1971), where we learned that the Raggedy Ann doll was possessed by the spirit of a girl named Annabelle Higgins. The first Annabelle spinoff, simply titled Annabelle, wound the clock back to 1967 and showed the doll targeting John and Mia Form, the next door neighbors of Annabelle Higgins' parents, who are swiftly killed by their daughter and her boyfriend at the beginning of the movie. Annabelle: Creation then jumped back even further to 1955 and depicted the doll and Annabelle Higgins' origins.

With the Annabelle doll's past thoroughly covered the first two spinoffs, it makes sense for Annabelle 3 to reestablish ties with the Warrens. That said, Annabelle 3 will still be somewhat of a prequel, because it's set after the beginning of The Conjuring, but before The Conjuring 2. So Ed and Lorraine Warren will be just fine, as will Judy, played by Mckenna Grace. However, Judy will be joined by her cousin and teenaged babysitter (played by Madison Iseman), so their fates are still up in the air.

Directed and written by Gary Dauberman, Annabelle 3 will scare its way into theaters on July 3, 2019. The latest Conjuring Universe installment, The Nun, came out last month, and a spinoff centered on The Crooked Man is also in the works. Make sure to also see what the next 12 months and beyond have in store theatrically by looking through our 2018 and 2019 release schedules.

As awards season starts to rear its head, and the festival fallout reaches the various publications of the internet, talk of who will make it to the big show is going to undoubtedly start up sooner rather than later. Jason Reitman's The Front Runner is one of those films that will enter the conversation, and with good reason, as his choice in subject matter - Gary Hart's 1988 presidential primary campaign - is the sort of subject that's a shoo-in for golden discussion. That being said, it's also a film that earns its distinction as an Oscar contender, as it's one of the best films this year has to offer.

In 1988, the political and media games changed in such a dramatic way that the shift is still felt to this day. This, roughly, was the first time a candidate's personal life was actively investigated by the press. It was the first time a party had to answer for said personal behavior, or risk defeat. And at the center of these drastic changes was Gary Hart, the presumed front runner for the Democratic presidential ticket, a young and idealistic politician who favored policy over sensationalism. Through the course of three weeks, he and the nation would become permanently changed.

The Front Runner isn't Jason Reitman's first foray into socially charged filmmaking, but it is his initial outing into the world of non-fiction adaptation. You wouldn't be able to tell though, as his co-writing / directing skills are applied to this film as effectively and viscerally as they are in the world of fiction. Rather than play the film out like a traditional biopic / historical piece, Reitman turns the story of the Hart campaign, and the three weeks that put it through the wringer, into something more lively and suspenseful. A personal history is portrayed like a suspense thriller, or even a horror film, at times in The Front Runner. The only difference is, the players are real people, and the weapons are statements, rebuttals, and denials.

It's perhaps best felt in the performances of the ridiculously talented ensemble, led by Hugh Jackman, playing the role of the Colorado senator with equal parts charming banter and gruff defense. His portrayal of Gary Hart shows a Jackman we haven't really seen on screen, as he doesn't overly play his hand in either direction of the behavioral compass. In this restraint, we're allowed to see a Hart that is not only totally believable as a candidate people would trust, but we're also allowed to decide for ourselves whether we believe him or not. Flanking him are high profile co-stars, like J.K. Simmons and Vera Farmiga; as well as younger, but equally motivated actors like Sara Paxton and Mamoudou Athie.

Refreshingly, the story of The Front Runner, written by Reitman, Matt Bai, and Jay Carson, takes that sort of balanced, wire-walk tactic, as well. The film isn't interested in lionizing its subject, nor are they interested in inducing pity for the man. What you want to see The Front Runner as is up to you, as all angles are covered. Those involved aren't looking to stir the pot towards any particular direction of the political spectrum -- rather, they're interested in the conversations that people had about politics in 1988, and the discussions they'll have as they walk out of the theater. Even films with the best political intentions can have a slant, but it takes a steady hand to tell an effective yet balanced story such as The Front Runner. The fact that they could do all of that, and still have one of the most entertaining dramas of the year, is something that deserves a round of applause.

The sign of a particularly good film based on true events is that it can thrill the audience, despite knowing the outcome. The Front Runner tells a well-documented, but not often talked about, American story with a propulsive, electrifying result. It's as entertaining as it is informative. This is also one of the most important films in our current political moment, laying out the origins of how we got to the political media complex we inhabit today. The fact that The Front Runner is as polished and entertaining as it is just makes it all the better to behold, but for every ounce of substance Reitman's film possesses, there's an equal amount of vital introspection present and accounted for.

It's been four years since Godzilla was successfully rebooted for Hollywood, and while the MonsterVerse continued last year with the 1970s-set Kong: Skull Island, the giant, fire-breathing reptile is finally returning next year for Godzilla: King of the Monsters. With a few exceptions, King of the Monsters features an entirely new cast, with The Conjuring's Vera Farmiga being one of the main stars. As we've seen numerous times, there's little that humans can do against these massive creatures, but Farmiga has revealed that her character, Dr. Emma Russell, will be able to communicate with Godzilla and the other monsters, which could allow her to control them. As Farmiga explained:

It's unclear how much time has passed since the events of Godzilla when Godzilla: King of the Monsters starts, but given that the former movie marked the public's exposure to these monsters (the "incident" in Kong: Skull Island was most definitely kept under wraps), no doubt that Earth's greatest minds from both Monarch and other organizations haven been wracking their brains on how to deal with these creatures. Judging by Vera Farmiga's revelation to Metro, it's a good bet that Dr. Emma Russell is working for Monarch, and through trial and error has devised a way to talk with the monsters. From there, she can potentially control their actions. Given the destruction Godzilla and these other monsters have wreaked, you can't blame humanity for creating a meands to get them under control, but it isn't a stretch to assume that something will go wrong with this science.

Godzilla: King of the Monsters will see Godzilla clashing with Mothra, Rodan and King Ghidorah (his arch-nemesis), leaving humanity's very existence hanging in the balance. Presumably these epic clashes will force this "bioacoustics" technology to be broken out for immediate use. Vera Farmiga's Emma Russell is joined by her husband Mark, played by Kyle Chandler, and her daughter Madison, played by Millie Bobby Brown. The rest of the cast includes Bradley Whitford, Thomas Middleditch, Charles Dance, Zhang Ziyi, Randall P. Havens and O'Shea Jackson Jr., as well as Ken Watanabe and Sally Hawkins reprising Dr. Ishiro Serizawa and Dr. Vivienne Graham, respectively.

Directed by Trick 'r Treat's Michael Dougherty, Godzilla: King of the Monsters rampages into theaters on May 31, 2019, so stay tuned to CinemaBlend for more updates on its development. For now, look through our 2018 release schedule to learn what movies are premiering later this year, and don't forget that in 2020, Godzilla will return to battle King Kong in the appropriately-titled Godzilla vs. Kong.

Netflix will explore the true crime genre yet again in 2019, with a series based on the controversial case of the Central Park Five, but it won't be a docu-series a la Making a Murderer or The Keepers. No, Central Park Five will be a limited series courtesy of Academy Award-nominated director Ava DuVernay, and now three impressive actors have joined the cast, including one of The Wire fame. Read on to discover the three actors and the roles they'll tackle for Central Park Five!

Omar's (kind of) coming! Michael K. Williams, best known for his iconic role as Omar on The Wire, has signed on for Central Park Five, although his new character will be quite different than the man he brought to life on The Wire. Williams will play Bobby McCray, the devoted father of one of the teenage boys accused of and then convicted of a rape they did not commit. Young Anton McCray lost valuable years of his life while incarcerated as one of the Central Park Five, and we can bet that Williams will have some emotional material ahead of him for this series as Anton's father. On top of The Wire, Michael K. Williams made a name for himself on a variety of projects, including Boardwalk Empire, The Spoils Before Dying, and Hap and Leonard. Anton McCray has not yet been cast.

Michael K. Williams will be joined on Central Park Five by John Leguizamo, who will also play the father of one of the accused teens. As Raymond Santana Sr., Leguizamo's character will have to watch his son, Raymond Santana Jr., go through an ordeal that saw him and other young men wrongfully convicted and not fully exonerated for many years. Raymond Santana Jr. has not been cast, but we can only hope that Central Park Five lands an actor who can hold his own with Leguizamo. Central Park Five will take Leguizamo back to Netflix, who played Ozzy on the thriller Bloodline. TV fans may remember him from series like The Kill Point and a relatively brief stint on ER.

Also joining the cast is Vera Farmiga of Bates Motel fame (or infamy, as the case may be). Unlike Michael K. Williams and John Leguizamo, however, Farmiga will be playing somebody who probably won't be much of an ally to the accused boys, at least at the beginning. She is on board as Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Lederer, who is the lead prosecutor for the case and will presumably cause a lot of trouble for the boys and their families. Farmiga could also be found on the big screen with films like Up in the Air and The Departed.

Created, directed, and written by Ava Duvernay, Central Park _Five_ will run for four episodes and debut globally on Netflix in 2019. Based on the terrible true story that rocked the nation, the series will chronicle the stories of the five teens of color who were wrongfully convicted. The four episodes will focus on the five Harlem boys, which is a slight departure from the original description of the series that stated five episodes were in store, with one per boy. You can expect the series to span from the spring of 1989, which saw the brutal attack of a woman in Central Park and the subsequent questioning of the boys who would ultimately be wrongfully convicted, all the way to their exoneration and settlement in 2014.

The only downside of the exciting castings is that we have a while to wait before we see these actions in action on the series. The show will premiere at some point in 2019; no more precise premiere window has been confirmed. For what you can watch while we wait, check out our 2018 Netflix guide and our summer TV schedule.

People go to Godzilla movies to see the fire-breathing monster wreak havoc on major metropolitan areas, but the stories overall wouldn't be as compelling without the human characters. Godzilla 2, officially called Godzilla: King of the Monsters, will make sure there are plenty of people on hand to witness Godzilla's latest fight. So far two people have been officially added to the sequel's cast, and today it was revealed that The Conjuring's Vera Farmiga is the third actor to jump aboard.

According to Variety, Vera Farmiga will join Stranger Things' Millie Bobby Brown and Bloodline's Kyle Chandler in Godzilla: King of the Monsters. The only details provided about her character is that she is the mother of Brown's character. Chandler is playing the father, though it's unclear if him and Farmiga's character are together or separated in the movie. With production on Godzilla: King of the Monsters expected to begin production in Atlanta, Georgia this June, you can bet that more casting announcements are on the way. So far no characters from 2014's Godzilla have been confirmed to return, and as they've said before, Variety mentioned that Ken Watanabe's Dr. Ishiro Serizawa is the only one likely to be brought back.

Vera Farmiga rose to prominence in Hollywood for her performance as Irene Morrison in 2004's Down to the Bone. Since then, her notable credits have included The Manchurian Candidate remake, The Departed, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, Up in the Air, Source Code and The Judge. Horror fans, however, likely know her best as Lorraine Warren in The Conjuring movies, where she co-stars alongside Patrick Wilson. On television, she's been playing Norma Bates on A&E's Bates Motel, which is currently airing its final season. Along with Godzilla: King of the Monsters, Farmiga's other upcoming movies include Boundaries, The Commuter and Captive State.

2014's Godzilla ended with the beast returning to the ocean after slaughtering the MUTOs, but no official plot details have been released about Godzilla: King of the Monsters yet, so we'll have to keep waiting to learn why he's emerged from the watery depths. This will be the third entry in Warner Bros and Legendary Entertainment's MonsterVerse, which revolves around the giant monsters (duh) that inhabit the Earth and the scientific organization Monarch that investigates them. The cinematic kicked off with Godzilla and continues next month with Kong: Skull Island. A year after Godzilla: King of the Monsters hits theaters, Godzilla will clash with King Kong in Godzilla vs. Kong, a showdown that has never happened in a full United States production before.

Directed by Krampus' Michael Dougherty, who co-wrote the script with Zach Shields, Godzilla: King of the Monsters will be released in theaters on March 22, 2019. Let us know what you think of Vera Farmiga joining the cast in the comments below.

Liam Neeson fans were hardly surprised earlier this year when the Irish badass joined the thriller action movie The Commuter, as that genre has become his bread and butter. Nevertheless, the movie sounded intriguing enough, and since then the movie's cast has slowly been unveiled. Back in June, The Conjuring's Vera Farmiga was added to the cast, and now it's been announced that she'll be reunited with her co-lead from that horror series, Patrick Wilson.

Variety dropped the news today that Wilson will be co-star alongside Liam Neeson in The Commuter, which will follow a salesman who is caught in a conspiracy on his way home from work and will have to identify one of the passengers on board his train before the last stop. Wilson will play a "trusted friend" of Neeson's character, while Farmiga will play the woman who boards the same train as the main character to provide him an "enticing offer."

While Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga have built impressive acting careers on their own, together they're known for playing Ed and Lorraine Warren (both real people) in The Conjuring and The Conjuring 2. Both movies followed the couple investigating paranormal activity across the United States in the 1970s. Wilson and Farming had goo chemistry in those horror-filled tales, so it's good to see that they'll be appearing in a different kind of movie together. That being said, it doesn't sound like their characters in The Commuter will be spending a lot of time together. The plot synopsis implies Liam Neeson's character will spend most, if not all, of his time on the train, so unless Wilson's character hops on during one of its stops, it doesn't sound like he'll share any screen time with Farming's character, but we'll have to wait and see. Who knows, maybe they'll get to chat together over the phone.

The Commuter will be directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, making this his fourth collaboration with Liam Neeson, following Unknown, Nonstop and Run All Night. Those latter two titles have the same kind of fast-paced action that it sounds like The Commuter will have, and since Liam Neeson has proved himself to be an enticing action star, this movie will hopefully be another exciting entry for his resume. The script was written by Byron Willinger and Phil de Blasi. Before The Commuter hits theaters, Patrick Wilson's can be seen alongside Michael Keaton later this year in The Founder, while Vera Farmiga reprise Norman Bates' mother in the final season of Bates Motel.

We'll keep you updated on The Commuter's progress as more information comes in, including when exactly it will be released in 2017. In the meantime, let us know what you think of Patrick Wilson joining the cast in the comments below.

Major spoilers for Bates Motel are below.

There you have it, Bates Motel fans. The moment that we all knew was coming has happened. At least it seemed to, and the creative team doesn’t appear to be setting us up for some big “Gotcha twice!” twist (but they probably are). Yes, Norma Bates is apparently dead, having been killed by her son Norman’s hand and a bunch of carbon monoxide. But although she didn’t wake up by the time the episode ended, does that mean she’s definitely dead? We’ll have to wait until next week’s season finale to get the definite answer, but here’s what co-showrunner Carlton Cuse said about the jarring twist.

As evidenced by Psycho, Norman Bates grows up to be a man that has not lost his obsession with his mother, so her being dead would hardly limit her ability to appear in Norman’s life. We’ve been watching Vera Farmiga play two different versions of Norma for a while now, so she would indeed be necessary to continue Norman’s descent into random madness. Cuse's comment to EW doesn't confirm whether he'll go through that descent mostly alone in Season 5 or as a part of a very fractured relationship with Norma, but at least we're getting more of actress Vera Farmiga no matter which way it goes.

Here's what Cuse says we can expect from the finale.

Cuse's answer to TVLine is the same level of cryptic as the other quote just with less information offered up. The emotional response could definitely be everyone’s reactions to Norma being dead, or whoever actually finds out about it. Or it could also mean Norma survives and has a presumably terrible response to her son trying his murder-suicide plan out on her.

I’d hate to lose the constantly agitated Norma that we’ve gotten used to for four seasons, but it makes perfect sense to set up a huge turning point like this far enough in advance of the series’ finale that Norman’s post-Norma development can be witnessed in full. Plus, the last season of Bates Motel shouldn’t just be Norma avoiding Norman out of fear and possible hatred, since their weirdo relationship is what makes this show.

Bates Motel will be back for what will certainly be a bonkers Season 4 finale on Monday, May 16, on A&E. Let us know what you guys think.

This poll is no longer available.

From the fire on the set of The Exorcism to all of the strange happenings surrounding those involved with the production of Poltergeist there is a long and strange history between horror movies and real life freaky occurrences. It turns out that The Conjuring franchise can now be added to this legacy, because lead actress Vera Farmiga has actually experienced two unexplainable incidents since starting work on the series.

Last fall, I had the pleasure of being a part of a small group of film journalists invited to visit the set of director James Wan’s The Conjuring 2, and it was while interviewing Vera Farmiga about her part in the upcoming sequel that she divulged details about two horror film-esque events that she has experienced since becoming part of the growing franchise. One occurred during pre-production on The Conjuring, and one happened right at the end of filming… but they’re connected incidents as both happen to involve a series of three scratch marks.

The First Incident

Vera Farmiga’s first creepy experience surrounding The Conjuring happened when she was originally considering signing on to the first movie a few years ago. She was just starting to look into the experiences of Lorraine Warren and talk with James Wan about the project when something pretty scary happened:

So Vera Farmiga was on her laptop, closed it to have a phone conversation about The Conjuring, and discovered three claw-like marks when she opened the device up again. Pretty freaky, right? Well, it actually isn’t half as messed up as the second chapter to this little story…

The Second Incident

Vera Farmiga’s second unexplained experience came a few months later – literally on the day that she completed work on The Conjuring. She returned home to upstate New York, and when she woke up the next day she discovered what she describes as "three claw mark bruises across [her] thigh."

The actress actually had a photograph of the claw marks that she showed to us on her phone – and I will admit that they were pretty creepy. She even added that she had a very peaceful sleep the night before, having been happy to be "home sweet home," which only made the occurrence more random and freaky. She did mention that the claw marks on her laptop and on her thigh weren’t exactly the same – as the ones on the computer were much thicker, but it’s still the kind of experience that you’d think would make her reconsider being a part of The Conjuring 2.

Funny enough, though, it was actually what Vera Farmiga learned from her experience in Loraine Warren’s skin that allowed her to stay strong after the incident. She knew that there were two ways to think about what happened, and she chose to stand up to it:

So when you go see The Conjuring 2 in theaters this July, if you wind up being really impressed by the authenticity in Vera Farmiga’s performance, you’ll know exactly why.

Once again, Ricky Gervais is teaming up with Netflix, for a movie this time instead of an episodic offering, like his last outing, the comedy Derek. This project with the streaming service giant is titled Special Correspondents, and the comedy has put together an incredible cast, which just unveiled its first cast photo.

A satirical comedy about a struggling radio journalist from New York who lives a spoiled, over-the-top lifestyle and may lose his job, the story follows him as he fakes a reports from the front lines while hiding out a Manhattan eatery. Joining Gervais are Eric Bana, who plays the aforementioned journalist, Vera Farmiga, Kelly Macdonald, Kevin Pollack, America Ferrara, Raul Castillo, and Benjamin Bratt.

In addition to his on screen acting duties, Gervais also wrote and is directing Special Correspondents for Netflix. The picture is currently filming in Toronto, where they have been in the process of principal photography since last month, and production is slated to wrap up in New York City next month, concluding on July 3. This is an impressive array of talent, and only goes further towards cementing Netflix’s status as an outlet producing interesting, original content that attracts top tier actors.

Eric Bana recently fronted the horror joint Deliver Us From Evil, as well as Peter Berg’s Navy SEALs actioner Lone Survivor, but played the Romulan villain in Star Trek and has even been the Incredible Hulk. Vera Farmiga garnered an Oscar nomination for her role opposite George Clooney in Jason Reitman’s Up in the Air, and has appeared in everything from The Conjuring to The Departed, and currently stars in A&E’s Bates Motel. Kelly Macdonald’s highest profile recent role was on HBO’s prohibition era gangster drama Boardwalk Empire, where she played the female lead, Margaret Schroeder, opposite Steve Buscemi. But if you’re of a certain generation, you first saw her in Trainspotting.

Beginning as a standup comedian, Kevin Pollack has won awards and acclaim for his varied roles in movies like The Usual Suspects, Casino, and many more. America Ferrara first came to prominence as the star of Ugly Betty, but has appeared in tons of other films and TV projects, and even lent her voice to the How To Train Your Dragon movies. The Texas-born Raul Castillo has an extensive resume, but is most known for his role as Richie on HBO’s comedic drama Looking. And Benjamin Bratt is, of course, an industry vet who has popped up in everything from Law & Order to 24 and Modern Family. Hell, he even dated Julia Roberts.

Special Correspondents is deep into production as we speak and is scheduled to debut on Netflix sometime in 2016. And if this cast is any indication, this is probably going to be something rather memorable to behold.

The upcoming horror film Annabelle has many ties back to James Wan’s 2013 movie The Conjuring - as any prequel/spin-off would – but one link it doesn’t have is appearances from the originals’ stars. While the characters do have very important ties to the titular doll, paranormal investigators Ed and Lorainne Warren, who were played by Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson in last year’s horror film, don’t actually make an appearance in Annabelle. But that wasn’t necessarily always going to be the case.

This past weekend, I had the chance to sit down with Annabelle director John Leonetti and producer James Wan, and personally wondering about Farmiga and Wilson’s absence, I took the opportunity to ask if there was ever a discussion behind the scenes about having them make a cameo appearance. As it turns out, there were conversations about it, but it was ultimately decided that the schedules just wouldn’t work out, so the idea was left behind. Said Leonetti,

While Ed and Lorainne Warren don’t actually appear on screen in Annabelle, their finger prints are still all over it. To this day, the Annabelle doll (which in real life is actually a rather normal Raggedy Anne) remains as the most notable piece in the Warrens’ collection of demonically touched items. The new film even opens with a call back to the Annabelle sequence in The Conjuring where the Warrens are interviewing a pair of nurses who have felt the toy’s evilness (though the "Warrens" never actually appear on screen).

I didn’t have the opportunity to ask Leonetti and Wan about it during our short interview, but I remain curious as to what the cinematic future holds for Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga and the series. The Conjuring wound up making nearly $320 million worldwide when it was done with its box office run, and while Annabelle certainly represents an expansion of the franchise, I wonder if we’ll ever get a more direct sequel with the Warrens looking into another one of their most famous cases. It could possibly hinge on the success of Leonetti’s movie this weekend.

To hear director John Leonetti’s full answer to my question, watch the video below!

If you were looking to check into A&E’s reimagining of the world behind Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho, now’s the chance, as the network has released two new teasers for the upcoming second season of Bates Motel, slated to hit the network in March. And, hoo lawd, are they unsettling as all get out. Seriously — Vera Farmiga doesn’t have to do much to creep us out, but these new clips don’t hurt that feeling either.

The highly inventive series stars Freddie Highmore alongside the aforementioned Farmiga, and will see the unsettling creepiness continue in its second turn. Following the events of season one (which is currently available on DVD), where we saw Norman grappling with what the dark feelings inside of him mean, fixation and obsession continue to bubble up around the characters.

Now, spoiler alert for anyone not caught up on the first season, but the ambient clips paint a picture that proves the goings-on in White Pine Bay will continue to cause strife for the Bates family, and places Dylan Bates (Max Thieriot) in the middle of some very dangerous doings. We’ve also been told the death of Ms. Cooke and Norman’s subsequent blackout will be discussed. (Sorry, Norma, but you’ve got a psycho in your house. Woops!)

But it’s not all gloom and doom on the series (OK, so maybe it is a lot of gloom and doom); there are some seriously meaty guest stars reserving room on season two — particularly to further Norma’s storyline along. Dissecting this mother-son relationship needs a lot of back up, you guys. Which is why the series has tapped names like Alias star Michael Vartan (Greg, a new love interest for Norma), Hung’s Rebecca Creskoff as Norma’s first female friend Christine, and Sons of Anarchy’s Kenny Johnson as Norma’s estranged and abusive brother Caleb. All of this will, assumedly, help push the psychological aspects and nuances of the story forward. After all — as it states in the official behind the scenes trailer — as Executive Producer Carlton Cuse explains below, season two “is bigger” and “more dramatic” than ever.

Other guest starring roles have gone to the likes of Boss star Kathleen Robertson (mum’s the word on what her role might be), Percy Jackson’s Paloma Kwiatkowski (who has the unlucky fortune of playing a potential love interest for Norman), and Grey’s Anatomy’s Michael O’Neill, who will play Miss Watson’s less-than-fatherly father.

For fans hoping for more exclusive treats, they can head over to BuzzFeed for another look at the upcoming season, including a new poster.

Bates Motel re-opens for business March 3, 2014 on A&E.

The buzz on The Conjuring has been strong ever since it was pushed back to a midsummer release, and with the horror film poised for a big debut this weekend, I think you probably know what's about to happen next. Variety reports that production company New Line (based at Warner Bros.)has already started developing a sequel to The Conjuring-- and unlike most sequels that start developing before a movie comes out, they're not even afraid to admit it.

“Horror is very much a part of the DNA of New Line — ‘Nightmare on Elm Street,’ ‘Friday the 13th,’ ‘The Rite,’ and the ‘Final Destination’ films,” New Line president Toby Emmerich told Variety. “This is as good a horror movie as we’ve ever made…. We think it will have great playability.” In The Conjuring Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson play real-life paranormal investigators Lorraine and Ed Warren, a married couple who discovered the story that become The Amityville Horror and investigated dozens of other cases over the years. Back when we visited the set everybody was pretty frank about hoping the real stories of the Warrens could help The Conjuring turn into a franchise-- in fact, at one point the movie was called The Warren Files, a title that seemed tailor-made for a bunch of sequels. The Warren Files: The Conjuring. The Warren Files: The Reaping. You get the idea.

Though the Variety report doesn't say anything about deals for talent beyond screenwriters Chad and Carey Hayes to return , Patrick Wilson was pretty frank about the possibility of him and Farmiga reprising their roles:

The Amityville Horror and 2009's The Haunting in Connecticut are both based on Warren cases, which proves there's franchise potential there even before New Line gets started on making their version. If you're curious about what the next film might tackle, I highly recommend a visit to the Warrens' Wikipedia page, which highlights some of the cases they've investigated, from a man who claimed to be possessed by a "werewolf demon" to a murder trial in which a man who killed his landlord pleaded "Not Guilty By Reason Of Demonic Possession." Any one of them sounds like it could make a pretty good horror movie, especially in the capable hands of James Wan, who is a little busy with a Fast & Furious movie on his plate, but could theoretically make a second Conjuring movie afterwards. After all, he's managing to release both The Conjuring and Insidious Chapter 2 in a single year, so the guy's clearly not afraid of a little hard work.

Let us know in the comments if you're as excited for The Conjuring as New Line seems to think you are, and if you've got ideas for what the Warrens' next adventure should be, share them!

Patrick Wilson may have Tony and Emmy nominations, roles opposite Kate Winslet and Meryl Streep and a bona fide superhero on his resume, but he's not afraid to get down, dirty and scary too. What started off as a short, low-budget horror movie turned into the surprise hit Insidious, and Wilson didn't hesitate to reunite with director James Wan for another very different kind of scarefest, The Conjuring.

If all goes well-- and based on rapturous early buzz and the surprise change to a prime release date, it will go well-- Wilson may have landed himself a franchise. He and Vera Farmiga star in The Conjuring as Ed and Lorraine Warren, the pair of paranormal investigators who discovered the famous Amityville Horror case, but had dozens of other supernatural and terrifying encounters over the course of their career. At the center of The Conjuring is the story of the Perron family, who move into a Rhode Island farm house only to discover it's inhabited by a very malevolent witch named Bathsheba, who hung herself from a tree outside the house years earlier. The Perrons (played by Lili Taylor and Ron Livingston) bring in the Warrens to investigate, and The Conjuring sets itself apart from most haunted house thrillers by being more about the experts who come in to save the day than the tormented family.

Wilson-- though he was disappointed not to get to grow a mustache-- was still in the middle of getting into the period 1970s vibe when we spoke to him on the set in Wilmington, N.C. last April, as The Conjuring was nearing the end of its 40-day shoot. Here are the highlights from our conversation below, and if you want to see our full set report, click here.

We were upset to hear you didn't have a mustache.

It’s funny, when James was selling me this I guess in December, November, something like that, he was like, ‘Yeah, we’ll do it period, like with a mustache and everything!’ And I was like, ‘Awesome!’ And then I looked at the pictures and I called him back, I was like, ‘Jim, I don’t think he ever had a mustache. I really wish he did, but …’ It was very funny. So the mustache was sort of the selling point at the beginning, but then we realized Ed never wore a mustache.

Can you explain what you were shooting right now?

This is sort of the meat of the movie where Lili Taylor’s character, Carolyn, she’s just been pulled down the stairs. The spirit of the witch – sounds like a Rush album – is pulling her downstairs and she’s flying around the room. A little backstory;: my guy, Ed, up till this point, does not give exorcisms. He’s not a priest and that’s certainly reserved for priests. And this is the point in the movie where he has to decide; there’s really no time to wait for the word from the Vatican to assign someone to come give the exorcisms and, at this point, we come down there and she’s been thrown around the room and really is being taken hold of by this entity so then I’ve gotta give the exorcism myself.

Having worked with James on Insidious, I was wondering if you could talk a little about the differences or any similarities here.

Only in the very basic sense of it being in the genre. A large selling point of wanting to work with him again is because we had such a great experience on Insidious and the crew as well and the camera department. Insidious we knocked it out pretty quickly and it was a wonderful experience, so I knew going into it that James and I really worked well together. And that being said, this is a totally different animal and a different kind of movie.

I think [it's] a little more character driven, and certainly when you’re playing someone who is a real person, you’re trying to figure out how much of it is biographical mixed into this genre. Potentially, if all goes well, to perhaps set up more because with these people, the Warrens, had thousands of cases. It’s certainly a hot commodity; you can mine a lot of stories out of them. I knew going in that James just knows not only the genre so well, but he’s got a very specific sense of tone in his movies.

The Warrens are known for being somewhat quirky, so can you talk about how that quirk filtered into caring about them in the film?

I tread lightly because having met Lorraine and Judy--Ed passed away in ’06 I think it was-- they’re very open people and excited about this. It’s a strange world to go into; not only are we gonna tell your story or at least a piece of your story, but we’re gonna do it in a horror genre and make a horror movie out of it. You don’t really get stories like that a lot. You’re constantly trying to figure out what’s real and biographical and what we’re doing to, like any movie, focus it into a dramatic picture.

They had their own way of speaking and dressing, and automatically, when you set it in the 70s, you’re already an image. Vera and I, we wanted to, as much as the system would allow us, swing with a big stick and make really bold characters. We didn’t really want to just be Vera and Patrick going through a contemporary horror movie either being scared, scaring people or rescuing people. So we sifted through a lot of the physical things that I could find online, crosses, picture, rings, clothes. She was very specific in the clothes she wore. Everybody was all on the same page so you could make a character, but I think you care about it because they come with a sense of honesty and really wanting to help people out. This whole supernatural world was so uncharted, so anybody that dedicated their life to wanting to help people out, it’s not like they made any money. Yes, they were interested in the occult, but I think that they genuinely wanted to help people so I think there was an honesty with them, and I think that you’ll get that, hopefully, with our performances.

If the Warrens become a franchise, would you like to revisit this character?

I don’t know who else would play him now. [Laughs] Vera and I wouldn’t have signed on for one not knowing that they didn’t want to do more. That’s just the nature of the beast.

What is it about him as person that you would like to explore?

For me it’s always just trying to do something different and even though I’ve done the horror genre once, I mean, Insidious is a totally different set up. If anything, I’m closer to Roger, Ron [Livingston]’s character, the husband in peril and saving his family. There is a lot of being protective with me and Lorraine, but I think it’s fascinating, a couple that dedicated their life to the occult, supernatural, demonology and the guy was one of seven or eight demonologists, the only person at the time that was authorized or supported by the Vatican to give an exorcism who wasn’t a priest. He knew more about this world than most priests around the world. I don’t think most priests delved into the demons and the backstories and the hundreds of years of spirits. I don’t think anyone knew that better than Ed. He read. Everything about him, he was always reading and studying and from a very early age just really loved this world. I can latch onto somebody like that that has that kind of passion even though it wasn’t my passion, but it’s something I can really respect.

Did Lorraine come to set to see you?

She did.

Did she feel you embodied him?

Something she said--which was all I ever wanted because Ed and I look totally different even through history. I thought about trying to go closer to his look, but it wasn’t that important. People aren’t gonna see me and go, ‘He doesn’t look like Ed Warren!’ You know what I mean? The physicality doesn’t matter, but she had said to me, ‘I look in your eyes and you have that same kindness and that same openness that Ed had.’ And that to me just made me feel great. That’s all I’m going for is just to try to capture his spirit.

This is kind of crazy actually. I was looking at rings [for the costume] and I thought, ‘Eh, it’s probably closer to this one,’ and I sent him a picture and he was like, ‘Oh! That’s perfect! He had an onyx ring, it was grey.’ And so I picked this ring out and they come to set. We were sending e-mails back and Lorraine goes, “Oh my gosh, you know, I looked for that ring. It looks just like that, but I think I buried him with it.’ [Laughs] I was like, well I hope you don’t find it, or maybe you will! And then randomly my dad, my own father, had come up the next week and he had a ring and I don’t even remember when he got this. He had a ring that looked almost identical to the ring I’d picked out to play Ed Warren. I mean, the two diamonds and a little onyx piece there. He was on set and I was like, ‘Dad, let me see your ring.’ He holds out his hand and I was like, ‘Wow.’ And then, of course, my mom goes, ‘Oh, did you get that ring after Dad?’ I was like, ‘No, I had no idea.’

Did working on this make you a believer?

It’s funny. I try as hard as I can to separate my own beliefs. I’m not a skeptical person anyway. I think I’m a pretty open person, but it’s such a slippery slope that when I’m playing him, and this sounds kind of hokey and actor-y, but I really don’t think about my own feelings at all because he was such a believer and if people were hecklers in the crowd, he would take them on, one-on-one. He was very passionate about what he believed in. It’s like that thing about the men on the moon; people say, ‘No, we didn’t send people to the moon,’ and then you talk to Buzz Aldrin, they said, ‘You cannot take that experience away from me.’ Tthere is that kind of sentiment with Ed of going, ‘You can’t tell me what I’ve seen.’ And trust me, you get into the demonologists in some of the books that he’s written, a lot of it’s pretty far out there, it’s pretty deep and supernatural, so you’re sort of like, I wanna read, but the more I read, the more I, ‘Okay, let me just go for the ride.’ It’s tough. That’s a long-winded answer. But when I’m Ed, I believe.

"I'm growing up and moving on."

James Wan is joking when he says this, explaining how The Conjuring is the first film he's made without his longtime collaborator Leigh Whannell, and without a cameo by Billy the Puppet, the icon from the film that launched Wan's career, Saw. But as The Conjuring prepares to arrive in theaters next month, it's clear Wan wasn't really joking at all. The Australian-born enfant terrible, who launched the entire "torture porn" sub genre when he brought Saw to the Sundance Film Festival at the ripe age of 26, has spent a decade building his name on blood, guts and death. But with both The Conjuring and Insidious 2 coming this summer, and production on Fast & Furious 7 starting, Wan is rising fast and in a lot of different directions… and The Conjuring wants to be first to prove that he doesn't need torture or creepy puppets to entertain the hell out of you.

Though it's arriving with an R-rating (on the set the producers said they were aiming for a PG-13), the 1970s-set, based-on-a-true-story The Conjuring is billing itself as a subtler, more character-driven riff on horror, a tale of possession and things that go bump in the night that's not so much about the tormented family, but the people who come in to save them. Ed and Lorraine Warren were a married pair of paranormal investigators who handled dozens of cases, including the possession at the center of The Amityville Horror, and were described on set as a kind of Nick and Nora Charles of ghost stories. Casting Patrick Wilson (of Wan's Insidious but also an Emmy and Tony nominee) and Vera Farmiga (of TV's Bates Motel) in itself is enough to promise a kind of classy horror story, and Wan cites The Exorcist and the original 1963 The Haunting as references for the mood and tone. "I think it’s a more mature film that anything I’ve done," Wan says.

Last spring, on the Wilmington, N.C. set, The Conjuring was going by the title The Warren Files, which practically screamed "start of a franchise" (Wilson confirmed "Vera and I wouldn’t have signed on for one not knowing that they didn’t want to do more.") And the dead-simple plot of The Conjuring wouldn't be hard to replicate, especially given the dozens and dozens of cases the Warrens handled. For this one, it starts with a witch named Bathsheba who made a pact with the devil to return as an all-powerful demon-- "didn't quite work out that way," cracks producer Tony DeRosa-Grund. The tree where Bathsheba hung herself, a gnarled, hand-shaped black monstrosity which production designer Julie Berghoff calls "the most iconic part of the film for me," was emblazoned on many on-set logos, and is featured in the film's unsettling trailers like this one below:

Decades after Bathsheba hangs herself from the tree, the Perron family moves into her Rhode Island farmhouse, and the story from there is familiar-- unexplained happenings, odd behavior, and an inability to leave the house that's driving you crazy. Lili Taylor and Ron Livingston play parents Carolyn and Roger Perron, and a bevy of up-and-coming talents play the Perrons' five daughters, including White House Down's Joey King and The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn's Mackenzie Foy. Though some producers suggested he trim the 5 daughters down to 3 to make them more manageable for the film, Wan insisted on keeping the original five, and all of the Perron daughters-- now in their 40s and 50s-- visited the Wilmington, N.C. set. According to producer Rob Cowan, daughter Cindy had "quite a reaction" to the sight of the film's witch, who is a stunt man in makeup. "She really said that was exactly what she looked like."

By the time of the scene we watched them shoot last April, Bathsheba was nowhere to be seen on the outside, but had come to possess mother Carolyn (it was day 38 of 40 of the shoot, and with Wan shooting chronologically, we were nearing a big finale that nobody wanted to tell us much about). In the scene Lili Taylor is walking down the stairs into her cellar to investigate-- classic horror movie mistake. To guide her way Taylor's character, Carolyn Perron, lights a series of matches, allowing them to burn down to her fingers before dropping them and plunging herself back into darkness. Face lit only by the match, Taylor looks terrified and on edge… but it's only going to get worse for her. When Taylor was done the crew began setting up wires for the stuntwoman, who would be flung unwillingly around the room as the witch Bathsheba possesses Carolyn's body. As the Perrons themselves recalled it, the witch took special interest in the mother; Livingston met the real Roger Perron and explains, "He thought she [the witch] kind of had a thing for him and wanted to get rid of his wife, you know?" An image of Carolyn mid-possession, dangling above the cellar, is on the next page.

In the story the cellar--which you can see in the image above-- is a space the Perrons didn't even know existed until they moved into the house, and in real life the mysterious haunting only begins when the family opens up the closed-off cellar and fireplaces. The movie version of the cellar is a bit smaller than the one that really existed, according to producer Cowan, but it more than holds its own as fuel for nightmares, crammed with rusted old tools and mysterious mirrors and shadowy corners you can't really see even when you're in there. Production designer Julie Berghoff, stopping herself from giving away too much of the plot, revealed only that there's "a lot of action" in the cellar, and she paid attention not only to making it perfectly spooky, but perfectly lived-in as well. Beams of the ceiling are made to look like old reclaimed telephone poles or logs, the walls were painted to look as if they'd been replastered many times, and as for all the scary props? "Everything in there has a back story, believe it or not."

Standing on the hard-packed dirt floor of the cellar is legitimately creepy-- it's hard to imagine anyone going about their daily business in there-- and while no one on set seems actively scared of it, most of them are happy to talk their encounters with the supernatural since production began in February. Producer Rob Cowan and screenwriters Chad and Carey Hayes recount what happened when the actual Perron daughters visited the set, and how when one of them glimpsed the witch in costume, she promised "Something really bad is going to happen out here today." Hours later, the real Carolyn Perron, who was the only living family member not to visit the set that day, fell and broke her hip. "Literally she said this is Bathsheba, the witch, doing something to her," Cowan recalled, with the fervor of someone retelling a spooky ghost story." Producer Peter Safran remembers sending the script to Vera Farmiga via e-mail, only for her to tell them that when she woke up the next morning, there were three deep scratches on her computer screen, hours after she had been reading the script. And though Wilson doesn't seem too swayed by reports of the supernatural on the set, to play believer Ed Warren he had to embrace some of the man's beliefs-- "When I'm Ed, I believe." Later today we'll bring you complete interviews with Wan and his cast, along with more details from the production team and screenwriters about how the moody details of The Conjuring came to exist, from construction the gnarled tree from which Bathsheba hanged herself to how Patrick Wilson somehow managed to pick a ring for Ed Warren that looked exactly like one that belonged to his own father (spooky!). The Conjuring arrives in theaters on July 19, riding on some spectacularly great buzz. You can check out the full trailer below, and come back later today for our interviews with the cast and crew.

James Wan’s The Conjuring finally gives horror fans a full, well-rounded trailer to send shivers up and down your spine. Admittedly, there doesn’t seem to be anything particularly new or exceedingly different about these shivers, but ever since making his harshly fantastic debut with Saw, Wan has injected an energetic giddiness into each of the films he’s made, and while tackling back-to-back haunted home horrors isn’t stretching his abilities, this trailer at least separates The Conjuring from Insidious, his previous film.

This trailer, courtesy of the film’s Facebook page, incorporates some of the elements we’ve seen before in the spooky blindfolded hide-and-seek trailer, and some of the bits that were shown at New York Comic Con and WonderCon, but delves more into the wraparound story that gives the film its “based on a true story” poetic license.

We get to see Ed Warren (Patrick Wilson) and wife Lorraine (Vera Farmiga) as they have their own ghostly moments inside the house that Lily Taylor’s character moves into and subsequently where she gets all of the shit scared out of her. The use of Donovan’s “Hurdy Gurdy Man” is prevalent here as it was in an earlier clip, giving the trailer that post-hippie feel-good sensation, just before everything goes really, really wrong.

What makes this trailer just that much more interesting than every other poltergeist film trailer out there is that while it pours on the quick startling scares, it seems as if this film itself has got loads more freaky ass looking ghouls to freak viewers out with. I have a feeling Lorraine’s “the quality of my mental health is directly tied to how many ghosts are around me” is going to be trying on the patience as the film goes on, but this looks as exciting as any other non comedic, non-Evil Dead horror coming out in the next few months.

The Conjuring will be jolting theatergoers out of their seats on July 19, 2013.

James Wan is usually associated with the Saw franchise, even though he only directed the initial installment in the long-running horror franchise. After that, he started exploring more traditional ghost stories in an effort to unnerve his audiences. Insidious remains one of the creepiest films I’ve seen in recent years, so I’m anxious to see how Wan follows it up with The Conjuring, a haunted tale he recently filmed in Wilmington, N.C.

Co-written by Chad and Carey Hayes, The Conjuring tells the based-on-truth story of ghost hunters Lorraine (Vera Farmiga) and Ed Warren (Patrick Wilson), a couple summoned to a remote New England farm when the family begins experiencing supernatural occurrences. The movie’s due in theaters in July, but EW.com has a few first-look photos, which we’re sharing below:

The most revealing notion of these new photos is that it sets up the period setting of Wan’s story. The Conjuring takes place in the 1970s, which you probably could tell based on the clothing on Ron Livingston and Lili Taylor, playing the terrified parents who summon the spiritual investigating Warrens to their home.

The Warrens are actual people, though, and the Conjuring script reportedly pulls its information directly from case files that you can read regarding the couple’s investigations into strange happenings around the globe. And there are many case files, meaning Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema might have a potential “Warren Files” franchise on their hands if enough audience members respond to The Conjuring when it opens on July 19, 2013.

With his gritty and gory Saw, emerging director James Wan changed the tide of horror, and now as follow-up to his practical effects-favoring, critically praised Insidious he's got The Conjuring, a supernatural thriller that stars Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Lili Taylor and Ron Livingston. At the film's New York Comic Con panel the latter three joined Wan and The Nerdist's Chris Hardwick, who served as moderator, to give the eager crowd a taste of what the horror auteur has in store for his next feature.

Wilson and Farmiga star as the "original modern-day ghost hunters Ed and Lorraine Warren," Wan told the crowd. The film is based on a true story wherein the Warrens, who had a long history of intervening in cases of haunted houses including the infamous Amityville house, were called in to investigate the home of a family of seven (Taylor and Livingston play mother and father) "that are besieged by evil spirits." One in particular, Wan warned, is a "really bad" witch.

Much to the excitement of the crowd, Wan debuted the trailer. The setting is the 1970s; "Hurdy Gurdy Man" plays, instantly giving the images and unsettling atmosphere. Amid jump scares and hair-raising musical stings, we're shown an unseen force tugging a girl from her bed, pictures torn from walls, and other ghostly mayhem. Farmiga's character is introduced as a woman who is not only in touch with the dead, but whose exposure to them—it is implied—kills her a little each time. There are a couple of shots of our malevolent witch, including one lunge that makes the audience gasp in unison. (Okay, this reporter squealed.)

But that's not all. Wan also unveiled a (seemingly abridged) sequence from the film. And while the trailer was well received, the tension building in this clip drove the audience wild. The scene began in the day with a smiling Taylor playing hide and seek with a giggling blond daughter. This family has strange rules to their game though. For one the seeker must put on a blindfold as they search, and two the hidden must clap three times on request to give the searcher clues. So, with a broad, playful smile Taylor puts on her blindfold as the girl runs out of the room to hide. Then comes a clap. Taylor follows it into another bedroom, where—unseen by her—a pair of closet doors slowly open on their own. Then, the second clap comes from inside the closet.

Taylor walks towards it with her hands out – but right before she blindly reaches in, her daughter tears into the room shouting triumphantly that her mom was way off! Confused, Taylor moves the clothes aside in the closet, but finds nothing. Cut to later that night. Taylor looks in on her sleeping daughters and is immediately frightened—as are we—by a horrible sound of unseen destruction. She looks to the stairwell and watches as the photos (seen in the trailer) hung on the wall are torn away by something invisible. She stumbles downstairs to investigate, and we in the audience groaned in anxious anticipation.

She switches on lights and shouts out to the unseen intruder. Then someone claps. More cries from the audience. She follows the sound, and the basement door slowly opens behind her, and as she approaches it members of our audience yelped. Into the basement, she turns on a light and looks down the stairs but sees nothing. When she turns to leave—BAM! The door slams in her face and the bare bulb above her shatters. There are terrible noises in the dark, then she manages to strike a single match. She's on her knees, terrified, surrounded by a soft but shaky ring of light coming from the match. The audience is on tenterhooks when a pair of ghostly pale hands appear right next to Taylor's face and clap! Cut to black.

As the lights come up, the cast and Wan look pleased as Hardwick chides Taylor, "Lili Taylor why would you go into that cellar!...That was fucking awesome!"

When time for questions came, two among those at the mic revealed connections to the house in question. One woman said she lived next door, and another claimed to be part of the paranormal investigation group who enlisted in the Warren's help. She asked to speak to them after, to tell them things they may not know. Hardwick joked that the movie has already been made, and suggested Wan just give her his phone number now.

The cast discussed how Wan's focus on practical effects aided their performances in that it built atmosphere on set. However, this frightening tone was lost on the child actors who we're told played games while not filming, and regarded the ghastly makeup and costumes as Halloween shenanigans. "They were kind of on a great six week sleepover," Livingston laughed. The atmosphere of the IGN Theater was jubilant, thanks in part to Hardwick's hosting, but also thanks to the genuine enthusiasm Wan and his cast clearly have for the film.

Wilson spoke about his research for the role, being very respectful of the fact that he is playing a man who deeply believes in evil spirits. He and Farmiga visited the Warrens' home, where they have a bit of a haunted museum, or a room where they house artifacts from some of their ghastly cases including the Annabelle doll which supposedly kills anyone who dares touch it. While the film is "a classic ghost story," it's also a biopic, and so Wan put a great amount of care into properly capturing the period, and attempting a realistic feel to his supernatural tale. "I'm trying to honor their point of view," he explained.

"I put the things that scare me up on screen, and that's kind of like my therapy," Wan says of his attraction to horror films, before admitting he thinks he has one more ghost story in him before he may attempt to tackle new genres. When one fan seemed down on Wilson's continued involvement on Wan's projects, Wan defended Wilson, saying that if he ever did a Batman movie, Wilson would be his Batman. So when Wan insisted he'd love to do sci-fi, action or a comic book movie, Wilson leaned forward to his mic and interjected "With me," which garnered cheers from the crowd.

So, from the looks of its trailer and freaky first clip, The Conjuring seems to be seriously scary. And New Line Cinemas appears to have big expectations for the horror biopic as they recently moved its release date from January (which is usually a red flag) to a prominent summer spot. So, The Conjuring is coming our way July 19th, 2013.

There’s a new Norma Bates in town, and she looks a lot better than when last we saw her. The lead female role in the new A&E series Bates Motel has gone to Vera Farmiga, who will play a young Norma Bates, mother to the future Psycho serial killer who still makes plenty of people nervous in the shower.

The series is a prequel to the Hitchcock classic and looks at the earlier days of Norma’s relationship with her son Norman Bates, and how it impacts Norman’s future actions. Most people are familiar with the end result of that relationship; Norman murders young women in the family motel while hiding his mother’s corpse in the big old house on the hill. How did he become such a crazed killer? Well, that’s the question Bates Motel aims to answer.

The series started life as a potential miniseries, but A&E decided to go in a different direction, and gave the project a straight-to-series order, forgoing the pilot stage. They have ordered 10 episodes and plan to premiere the series in 2013. Vera Farmiga is the first of the two main roles to be cast, according to Deadline. She has plenty of television experience, having co-starred on shows like Touching Evil and UC: Undercover. She’s also appeared in a number of films including Oscar-winner The Departed.

The big question remaining in the casting department is, of course, Norman himself. A young budding serial killer who is obsessed with his mother -not just any young actor will do for this part. I am guessing A&E will go with someone relatively unknown for the part.

In a surprise move, perennial horror director James Wan is making another scary movie. After getting his start in the industry with the first Saw film, adapted from his own excellent short film of the same name, Wan made a few other middling entries in the genre before returning to success with 2010’s Insidious. Looking to keep at least part of that winning formula together, the film’s star Patrick Wilson, as well as the great Vera Farmiga, may take part in Wan’s newest film called Conjuring.

THR reports that the two fine actors are in in final negotiations to come aboard the new New Line horror flick written by Chad and Carey Hayes. His film is apparently based on true events that occurred at the Perron family’s Rhode Island farm house during the 1970s. Wilson and Farmiga would play characters based on Ed and Loraine Warren, a husband and wife team of paranormal investigators. The demonologists investigated the mysterious events that took place at the haunted Perron farm, finally chronicled by Andrea Perron in her memoir “House of Darkness. House of Light.”

The scariest part about the project may be those dreadful words so liberally thrown around Hollywood these days - ‘based on true events.’ I can’t remember the last film, especially of the horror variety, that made that claim and actually produced a decent film. In fact, the best film to ever make that claim is Fargo, which is in fact not based on true events but instead an example of the Coen Brothers mocking the now meaningless title-card. Let’s hope that this ‘real haunting’ proves more interesting than the latest string of horrible horrors to make the same claim (I’m looking at you The Devil Inside and The Rite). What do you think?

There have been a lot of really good independent films in theaters this summer, from Terrence Malick's enormous visual poem Tree of Life to genre favorites like Attack the Block. But there's not one I love any more than Higher Ground, the directorial debut from actress Vera Farmiga that's a loosely fictionalized account based on the memoir by Carolyn Briggs, who joined a very intense, very Christian religious group as a teenager and slowly found herself moving away from her faith. Farmiga stars in the film as well, along with a killer supporting cast that includes John Hawkes, Joshua Leonard, Donna Murphy, Dagmara Dominczyk, and even Farmiga's own younger sister Taissa.

Back in April, when Higher Ground was part of the Tribeca Film Festival, Farmiga sat down for a breakfast meeting with a group of female journalists to talk about the movie, her experience as a female director, and what she does with all the awful scripts Hollywood sends her way. Here are some of the highlights from that conversation. Higher Ground is out now in limited release; if you want to know about the movie and why I think it's so very worth your time, you can check out my review from Sundance.

Farmiga had initially become attached to the project as an actress, but she left it when, as she diplomatically put it, " it just wasn’t shaping up the way that I had envisioned it." Then the film's screenwriter Tim Metcalfe suggested she take over as director, and as Farmiga says, "I was terrified of it."

I wanted Debra Granik to direct this, I did call her up, I didn’t blatantly ask her. She is such a mentor of mine, she mentored me through the process, especially in the editing because the editing suite is a place that actors are barred from, and rightly so, justly so.

It is the flip of a coin, a maddening flip of a coin sometimes, self-editing. I have a pretty good sense of what works in a scene. Ego always comes into play and you’ve got to keep your ego in check. Yes, there were times where I wanted to take the prettier shot or the better angle.

When production began on Higher Ground in upstate New York, near where Farmiga lives with her family, the actress-turned-director was four months pregnant, with a belly she shows off in one fantasy sequence in the film. It's incredibly rare to see pregnant women on film, and even rarer to see them working behind the camera, but the way Farmiga tells it the pregnancy wasn't even close to the biggest challenge.

I think as the pregnancy progress, so did my character through the seventies and eighties, and by the end of my film, I do look like I’ve had three kids. I think it works well for the journey of the character. I’m pretty gentle on myself. I can honestly say I’ll probably never do it again. But I’m invincible in my second trimmest of pregnancy, there’s nothing I can’t do, I feel energy like I’ve never felt. I think tapping into that was, there was a life force inside of me that was growing and I think it emanates on the screen, I do. It was tough though. We shot this in twenty-six days and I wasn’t often watching playback because I would use those times to run to the bathroom.

Higher Ground premiered earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival, where an unusual amount of religious-themed films were also showing, including Kevin Smith's Red State and Sean Durkin's Martha Marcy May Marlene. But whereas each of those films took very specific, critical stances on fanaticism, Higher Ground is a far more questioning and gentle approach, even though it deals with extremely fundamentalist Christians living a cloistered lifestyle.

I have a deep respect for all religions and I always kind of admired men and women of great faith. My father and mother are both those people, my father especially, I’ve coveted what he had. I always yearned for that. So gosh, I don’t have a bone to pick or an axe to grind with the community. I think, to me, I find there’s two kinds of films, ones that proselytize, are made for the community trying to convert you, or other ones that poke fun at the community. I didn’t want to make either kind of film. I wanted to make a different kind of film, I wanted to make a film for believers and non-believers. I wanted to not judge this topic, the topic of not-knowing, the topic of questioning. I didn’t want to judge its characters. No character comes out of this film more enlightened than the other, even Corinne. So that’s really the approach. I wanted to be very reverent, so to speak. I wanted to be in it, I didn’t want to ride above it. I just wanted to be in it and not judge anyone.

You ought to have a perspective when you’re making a film. Mine was a gentle one. I find, to me, the story, yes, is about a woman and her life in this fundamentalist community. But on a different level it’s so much more than just a story about her relationship with God, it’s yearning on sort of the most, I think yearning is holiness in a way. I feel this is a woman who is just yearning for passion and yearning to be genuine, to come from a genuine self. Yearning for a good sense of self, yearning for intimacy in all her relationships.

The movie focuses on a number of the relationships in the life of the main character, Corinne, based loosely on Carolyn Briggs, whose memoir inspired Higher Ground. One of the most memorable relationships is the one Corinne has with Annika, a fellow member of the religious group who is also frank and funny in a way a lot of the religious zealots are. Farmiga said she had known the actress, Dagmara Dominczyk, for years after going to the same auditions, and wanted to emphasize in the film how important and valuable female friendship can be. And also how sometimes, you might imagine yourself sucking the toes of your best female friend. Really.

In the adult Corinne, we took the first two portions of her life and used that as a blueprint, and kind of forged a narrative based on our own life experiences and imagination, and what we want to see, what kind of films challenge us and delight us and one important factor was the representation of female friendship. It was a little homage we created and we wanted to portray female friendship as I know it, as I have with my own friends, as I cherish. Because I don’t see enough of that, I really don’t, and the importance of friendships between women.

When your parents are immigrants and you come from that part of the world, there’s just an automatic kindred spirit. She’s that woman that you want to be-- Dagmara is that woman. She embodies that as a human being, that sexuality, that comfort in your own skin, that maternal mother earth essence of love and voluptuousness, bodiness, and being unapologetically who she is. It’s a very seductive quality. I’ve missed her, she took a hiatus to give birth to her two sons, and I just wanted to see her back in action, especially after motherhood, which is an initiation in and of itself. She is Annika. The toe-sucking scene was a really hard one to keep a straight face. That was probably one of the hardest scenes to get through just because, god, it’s a rare thing, toe-sucking. It should be a more frequent thing.

Farmiga made her name in the grim indie Down to the Bone but is no stranger to bigger Hollywood productions like Source Code and Orphan, and like any actress with an Oscar nomination behind her, she's had many other offers that she turns down. Word got out recently that Farmiga doesn't just toss the bad scripts sent her way, but burns them in a bonfire in the backyard. We of course had to ask her about it.

Honestly, it sounds more anarchic than it is. When you live out in upstate New York, it’s actually commonplace to do bonfires because there’s many windstorms and electrical storms and limbs are always falling off of trees, I find it extremely therapeutic to gather those twigs. I love mowing lawns, I love lawn clippings, I love building fires. It’s an activity. You’ve got to do something with these scripts. And I don’t necessarily want to take them to the transfer station, to the dump where we live, because in my neck of the woods we don’t have a garbage service that comes and picks up. You have to recycle and you have to separate. It’s paper products so I could either bind them all and take them to the dump, I’m just afraid that someone will actually, they’ll be privy to things that haven’t come out yet. It is something I do, and it’s usually the poorer scripts that get ignited.

The cast alone of Henry's Crime makes it an easy sell: Keanu Reeves, Vera Farmiga and James Caan, starring in a bank-heist comedy, with backup from Judy Greer, Peter Stormare and Fisher Stevens? No arm-twisting needed there. The movie also premiered last fall at the Toronto Film Festival, which means at least a few smart people already gave it their stamp of approval, and the plot involves Reeves's character executing a bank heist by taking the lead role in a performance of The Cherry Orchard.

Amazingly enough, a lot of that manages to come across in the poster, which premiered at Cinematical and you can see below. You've got the three leads, the theater and the bank, and some helpfully scrawled instructions that point to the heist. Unfortunately there's also the matter of a howler of a tagline: "The real crime is not committing to your dreams." That seems to point directly at some kind of sappy ending in which Henry and everybody else realize their true purpose in life, which is not at all the kind of thing that gets you pumped for a comedy heist thriller.

Beyond that, though, everything's looking good. Henry's Crime opens in New York April 8 and will expand wider the week after.

If the first trailer for Duncan Jones’ Source Code didn’t hook you, this one most definitely will. Showing off a bit more of what will definitely be a story unlike any you’ve ever heard, this new trailer, which premiered over at HeyUGuys, builds on everything we saw in the domestic trailer a few weeks ago.

There seems like there would be some pretty loose science involved--I mean, why would our hero Jake Gyllenhaal only be able to live the last eight minutes of a man’s life?--but after seeing Jones’ debut effort Moon, it’s hard to believe that he won’t go through pains to make sure the science is all grounded in some sort of reality and explained well enough to eliminate most questions normal movie goers will have..

Scope out the exciting new trailer below.

I for one can’t wait to see what Jones does with more than one actor and a budget more than my weekly allowance when I was 12. Source Code doesn’t hit wide until April 1st, but will be opening SXSW in March.

Want more? Get all the news on Source Code over at our Blend Movie Data Base

It sounds like director Christopher Nolan may have decided that his next Batman movie needs more female characters, or rather more than one. On the previous two Batman films the only female character of any note was Rachel Dawes, and she existed mostly to be rescued by Batman. For the sequel, there could be a several new female roles, probably because Batman needs more women to rescue.

Comic Book Movie claims that the script for the third movie includes a character named Detective Sarah Essen, set to serve as a love interest for top cop Jim Gordon, father of Batgirl Barbara Gordon. Word is that Charlize Theron has been approached to play the part. Their source further indicates that a new love interest for Bruce Wayne is being cast, a character named Julie Madison which both Vera Farmiga and Kacie Thomas have auditioned for.

Here’s where this doesn’t make sense. When last we left Jim Gordon he was married with a wife and two kids. The Jim Gordon we’ve seen on film isn’t the playboy type, not the kind of guy to cheat on his wife. So what’s he doing with a love interest? In the comics Sarah Essen is indeed a character he has an affair with and eventually marries (before she’s killed by the Joker), but my hope is that if Sarah Essen really is part of the movie, she’s simply be a fellow detective and not someone Gary Oldman gets to make out with.

The addition of a new love interest for Bruce Wayne, though, makes more sense. His storyline with Rachel Dawes has run its course and Batman isn’t the kind of superhero to be tied down. He’s more than ready for someone new in his life. In the comics the character of Julie Madison was originally a socialite who becomes engaged to Bruce Wayne, and is completely unaware of his nighttime activities. The character has actually appeared in a Batman movie before. In Batman & Robin Julie Madison was played by Elle Macpherson.

The eagle eyes over at The Playlist always have their eyes out for scoops from unlikely sources, which is how they picked up on a report on French film site Tout le Cine that Madonna has added her 13-year-old daughter Lourdes to the cast of W.E., her sprawling, somewhat experimental biopic about English King Edward VIII and his affair with American Wallis Simpson.

There's also a bit of scuffle about whether or not Ewan McGregor has signed on to play Edward-- Perez Hilton has claimed that he is, but a source tells Gossip Cop that the story is absolutely not true. Either way, Vera Farmiga is still on board to play Simpson, and Abbie Cornish has a role in the film as well. Does Madonna figure that both women are good role models for her daughter, and that explains the casting?