After the success of the The Conjuring in 2013, which grossed $318 million on a $20 million budget, New Line Cinema greenlit a sequel to capitalize one of the most successful horror films in recent history. Now, the cast is beginning to take form as it added Australian actress Lauren Esposito.
Esposito was chosen for an undisclosed role in the film through a search that spanned the U.S., England and Australia. Her casting comes just in time, as production on the film will begin this week in Los Angeles and London.
The sequel, titled The Conjuring 2: The Endfield Poltergeist, returns Vera Farmiga (The Judge) and Patrick Wilson (Insidious: Chapter 2) as Lorraine and Ed Warren, the paranormal investigating duo that stumbled upon a family terrorized by a dark force in their farmhouse.
Also returning is director James Wan (Saw), who led the latest Fast and Furious installment to record heights this past summer. Wan turned down the opportunity to direct the eighth Fast film to return to the movie that jumpstarted his career beyond the confines of the horror genre. He will serve as writer and producer this time around, co-writing the script with returning screenwriters Chad and Carey Hayes while David Leslie Johnson provided rewrites. Peter Safran and Rob Cowan will produce the film alongside Wan.
The Conjuring 2: The Endfield Poltergeist will hit theaters on June 10, 2016.