Australian director James Wan’s next film, Malignant, is out this September.
Insidious 3 has just hit theatres, so it may come as a surprise that director James Wan still has another film hiding in the shadows (and it’s intended for release this year). Originally set for an August 2020 premiere, the global pandemic delayed the film’s debut.
Plot details surrounding Malignant are currently unknown. However, a trailer was released earlier this year.
James Wan has also directed or produced a number of horror-genre films over the years. In 2013 he helmed The Conjuring, which centred around a case explored by paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. An overarching storyline was established in the 2014 film Annabelle which James Wan produced. Expanding on this shared universe was also the 2018 film The Nun. While not part of the franchise, James Wan has also directed or produced the Insidious films. James Wan will once again take on the role of director for Malignant.
Cast
While many of their roles haven’t been specified, several cast members have been revealed.
Annabelle Wallis has had roles in films X-Men: First Class, Snow White and the Huntsman and television series The Tudors. The franchise is familiar territory for Annabelle Wallis. The actress portrayed Mia Form in Annabelle’and also appeared in its 2017 prequel Annabelle: Creation. In Malignant she will be the female lead; however, it is uncertain if she will reprise her previous role.
Jake Abel is best known for his roles in several films. In 2010 he played Luke Castellan in Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief. Additionally, he took on the role of Mark James in the 2011 film I am Number Four.
George Young has had consistent work in the industry. Notably, he has appeared in the long-running drama series Casualty. The actor is set to play the male lead in Malignant.
McKenna Grace has appeared in a plethora of television shows and film. These include the series Once Upon a Time and The Haunting of Hill House. McKenna Grace was also previously in the 2019 film Annabelle Comes Home as Judy Warren. However, confirmation on whether she will be reprising this role remains to be seen.
Future
As of now, there’s only speculation as to whether or not Malignant will tie into the interweaving Conjuring Universe. James Wan does however have upcoming projects which are intended to definitively tie into the interconnected world of his recent films. The Crooked Man, titled after a figure that appeared in The Conjuring 2, is currently in development.
Malignant is set to hit big screens on the 10th of September 2021. Additionally, the film will be available on HBO Max simultaneously. However, the film will only be available on HBO Max for one month before it will only be exclusively viewable in theatres.
Are you excited for James Wan’s new horror film? What are your thoughts on his previous works? Let us know in the comments down below.
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