Conjuring Last Rites’ Hugh Jackman Connection Revealed Amid OTT Release, Here’s All You Need To Know

The Conjuring: Last Rites is finally out on OTT after its immaculate theatrical run in September 2025. The franchise marks the chilling return of Ed and Lorraine Warren, portrayed by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga. The film series became a fan favourite with its intense tales and impeccable performances. However, Last Rites marks the final chapter in The Conjuring franchise.

The film follows the paranormal duo as they confront the notorious Smurl haunting in 1986 Pennsylvania, exploring the emotional and physical toll their investigations take in their later years. So, as fans run to their couches to watch the spooky finale, let us take a look at the film series’s directors’ well-kept secret. Yes! Michael Chaves has a secret link between the Last Rites and Hugh Jackman.

The Conjuring: Last Rites has a special link to Hugh Jackman

The Conjuring Universe of films has reached its official end with Last Rites. While fans are sad to see the much-loved franchise go, they can relive the fear of the final instalment with its release on Max in the USA and on JioHotstar in India. However, fans have been curious about the inspiration for the big finale. Well, the film’s director, Michael Chaves, once revealed what he had in mind when he made it. He shared that the film’s emotional backbone owes much to Hugh Jackman, specifically his film, Logan. The 2017 superhero (almost) swan song that turned a gritty comic-book movie into a heartfelt farewell. 

One might wonder how a superhero film like Logan inspired one of the most famous horror franchises, The Conjuring, and its final instalment. Well, in a conversation with ScreenRant, Michael Chaves revealed how the two are connected, and it makes perfect sense! The director shared that Logan heavily influenced his 2025 release. He stated that The Conjuring: Last Rites serves both as the ninth instalment of the film series and a proper farewell to the dynamic duo, Ed and Lorraine Warren.

In the conversation, the director, Michael Chaves, said he wanted the film to deliver more than just scares and to feel like a sense of closure. He shared that Logan was his favourite film growing up, and he loved that one could imagine going on such an adventure, which made it a wonderful conclusion. Michael revealed that it was the same thing he wanted to deliver with The Conjuring: Last Rites. He was quoted as saying:

“Logan’s one of my favourite movies, and what I loved about it is that you can imagine the daughter going off on adventures in Canada and having this young mutant life. It gives you hope just thinking about it. But I think that there’s also something wonderful about feeling that conclusion; feeling the end of that story. That’s really what we wanted to deliver for this.”

Why Michael Chaves’ emotional attachment to Logan worked in The Conjuring: Last Rites

The Conjuring: Last Rites was a full circle for fans, the actors, and even the filmmakers. It feels more anchored as the story follows Ed and Lorraine as they retire from their investigative work, until a demonic case tied to their past pulls them and their daughter, Judy (Mia Tomlinson), back into the supernatural chaos. The film, set in 1988, closes not just on another exorcism, but on a note of hope and transition, as Judy steps into her parents’ legacy. Which is very interesting and in line with Logan, as it’s an ending that hurts a little but feels appropriate.

In the same conversation, Michael Chaves said that the theme of “letting go” drove the entire story. For him, The Conjuring: Last Rites wasn’t just about ending the horror movie franchise but concluding an era. He shared that the final chapters are often hard to write because fans struggle to let a story go. He was quoted as saying:

“So many franchises struggle with the final chapter… Because it’s hard for audiences to let a story go.”

For the Warrens, the theme was very close as their daughter starts a life of her own and they have to accept that they need to step back. The idea was anchored by what Michael Chaved called “the darkest chapter” in the series. The film opens with an emotionally devastating sequence that serves as both a flashback and a full-circle moment for the Warrens, a “bookend” that the director said was designed to take the audience “from the beginning to the end.”

What’s in the future for The Conjuring franchise

The end is often just the beginning. So, as the film series comes to an end, The Conjuring universe has still not shut the door completely. He shared that the studio executives are being extremely careful about what will be coming next, in regards of the spin-offs and even the prequel that reportedly is in development. Still, when it comes to Ed and Lorraine Warren’s story, Michael Chaves called Last Rites the definitive end of the line. Then again maybe Michael is trying to recreate Hugh Jackman’s return to Marvel Cinematic Universe after claiming he won’t be returning as ‘Logan’. 

What are your thoughts on Michael Chaves’ connection between The Conjuring: Last Rights and Hugh Jackman’s Logan?

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