Hold onto your seats, horror fans, as Akela Cooper, the writer for the highly anticipated sequel to The Nun, reveals exciting details about The Conjuring franchise.
She promised an increased representation of Black characters in the upcoming films of The Conjuring franchise.
This American gothic horror franchise began with the 2013 film The Conjuring and has since spawned other spine-chilling movies such as Annabelle and The Nun. Brace yourselves for The Nun 2, which takes place in 1950s France and follows the terrifying journey of Sister Irene (Taissa Farmiga) as she confronts the demonic Nun head-on.
The film is slated to hit theaters on September 8, so mark your calendars if you dare to witness the hair-raising story unfold.
In an interview with Dread Central, Cooper reveals that Storm Reid will play the infamous nun in the film.
Cooper reveals her intention to feature a Black nun in The Nun 2, with the other writers agreeing to her request without hesitation.
For Cooper, including more black characters in The Conjuring Universe is a moment of immense pride since most of the franchise’s protagonists are white. See Cooper’s own words below.
Especially, I was like really, really excited when they cast Storm Reid in the film because that character means a lot to me. That was another part in that meeting where I was like, “I’m going to put a Black nun in this, you guys,” and they were like, “Okay, cool.” Bringing more Black people into The Conjuring Universe was another proud moment.
Akela Cooper
The Conjuring franchise has been immensely successful, raking a staggering $2 billion at the box office. Despite this, several individuals have voiced their concerns over the lack of BIPOC representation within the films, sparking a growing sense of unease.
In all eight films, few Black characters have been given a prominent role and have often been cast into the shadows of background and supporting roles.
Cooper’s unwavering determination to feature a Black nun in The Nun 2 could signify a long-awaited breakthrough in representation for The Conjuring films.
A chilling past haunts the horror film industry with its long-standing tradition of disregarding Black representation.
For decades, these films have predominantly focused on white narratives while casting Black characters as either villains or victims.
But a new era has dawned with Jordan Peele’s Get Out, Us, and Nope paving the way for Black-led horror films to shatter the box office. Peele’s directorial prowess has caused a paradigm shift in the BIPOC representation in horror films.
Nonetheless, as more Black writers make horror films, there’s hope that Black representation will empower the community.
As the Conjuring franchise plans to release upcoming movies, such as The Conjuring 4, Cooper’s pledge to feature more Black actors in the film could potentially challenge the traditional casting practices in the horror genre.
Meanwhile, horror film fans eagerly anticipate The Nun 2 and are excited to witness Reid’s portrayal as the franchise’s first Black nun!
About The Nun 2
The Nun 2 is an upcoming American supernatural horror film directed by Michael Chaves and written by Akela Cooper. It serves as the sequel to The Nun (2018) and the ninth installment in The Conjuring Universe franchise, as well as the fourth film in terms of chronology.
James Wan and Peter Safran will be returning to co-produce the project, with Judson Scott also serving as a producer. Bonnie Aarons and Taissa Farmiga were confirmed to reprise their roles as Valak and Sister Irene, respectively, with Storm Reid cast as the new lead.
The film is scheduled to be released by Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line Cinema in the United States on September 8, 2023.
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