Another Hollywood coup for Matthias Schweighöfer (45): The actor will star in the most successful horror film franchise in cinema history. He's taking on a role in "The Conjuring: First Communion", the upcoming prequel from New Line Studios. U.S. trade publication "Deadline" first reported the casting, and Schweighöfer himself confirmed the news shortly after.
On his Instagram account, he shared the report and wrote: "This is just insane, people! The news is out: I'll be part of the horror film 'The Conjuring: First Communion.'" He left open which character he'll be playing. The studio is also keeping quiet about it, as "Deadline" reports. Meanwhile, Schweighöfer emphasized once again in his story: "This is insane. In case I haven't already said it: insane!!"
Young Warrens take center stage
The film tells the backstory of Ed and Lorraine Warren, the couple who professionally dealt with paranormal cases and who have been portrayed in the franchise so far by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga. The young versions of the two demonologists will be played by Garrett Wareing and Amanda Fix.
Nothing about the plot has been revealed so far. It's being kept strictly secret, according to "Deadline". The film is directed by French filmmaker Rodrigue Huart, who previously attracted attention with the short film "Transsilvanien". The screenplay is by Richard Naing and Ian Goldberg, and the film is being produced by Peter Safran. John Rickard, Natalia Safran, and Romel Adam are on board as executive producers. "First Communion" is scheduled to hit theaters on September 10, 2027.
A billion-dollar franchise
It all started in 2013 with "Conjuring - Die Heimsuchung". The film is set in an old farmhouse in Rhode Island where the Perron family is haunted by eerie apparitions. The Warrens are called in to help and find themselves drawn into the vortex of horror. The first installment grossed over $300 million, and three sequels followed.
By now, the franchise has grossed more than $2.7 billion worldwide and is considered the most successful horror franchise of all time. The previous record is held by "Last Rites", released in Germany as "Conjuring 4: Das letzte Kapitel": The film earned more than $499 million last year.
From the farmhouse to physicist
For Schweighöfer, the detour to Hollywood is not new territory. The actor, born in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, who gained a millions-strong audience with German comedies like "Rubbeldiekatz", "Vaterfreuden", or "Der geilste Tag", has already appeared in front of the camera for "Operation Walküre - Das Stauffenberg-Attentat", "Army of the Dead", and "Heart of Stone". He also directed "Army of Thieves". In Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer", he played physicist Werner Heisenberg, and he also voiced a character in Pixar's "Elio" and appeared in the Amazon series "You Are Wanted".
Most recently, he starred in the German science fiction thriller "Brick", which climbed to the top of Netflix charts in 59 countries within 24 hours of its release and remained there for two weeks. The action comedy "Mister" with Walton Goggins has already been filmed, and Schweighöfer will also appear in the psychological thriller "Play Dead" by Jaume Collet-Serra. The film is set during World War II and is being produced by Sam Raimi.
