🚨 What if the doll wasn’t just possessed… what if it was BORN evil? 😱

The Conjuring Universe has terrified millions with Annabelle’s cursed porcelain stare… but this? This is BEFORE the doll. Before the Warrens. Before ANYONE knew the nightmare was coming.

Whispers of a 2026 release. A chilling new trailer dropping hints at the TRUE origin — the moment pure evil took its first breath inside that innocent-looking toy.

Is this the prequel we’ve been begging for? Or just another fan-made mind game designed to haunt your feed?

Watch if you dare… but once you see it, you can’t unsee what’s coming for the doll’s soul. 👀🪆

The Conjuring Universe, one of the most successful horror franchises in cinematic history, may not be done with its most iconic villain yet. Despite the recent conclusion of the main Conjuring series with The Conjuring: Last Rites in 2025, online buzz is building around a potential fourth Annabelle film tentatively titled Annabelle 4: The Beginning of Evil, with a possible 2026 release window.

Fan-made trailers bearing the subtitle “Before the Doll… Evil Was Born” have racked up views on YouTube and social media platforms since late 2025, sparking widespread speculation. These concept videos, often featuring edited footage from previous entries mixed with new visual effects, promise a deep dive into the doll’s primordial origins — an era predating even the events of Annabelle: Creation (2017), widely regarded as the strongest installment in the Annabelle trilogy.

As of January 2026, Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema have not officially confirmed development on Annabelle 4. However, industry insiders and fan communities point to persistent rumors that the studio is exploring ways to extend the lucrative spin-off series. Sources familiar with the franchise, speaking on condition of anonymity, suggest early discussions have taken place, though nothing has moved into active pre-production.

The Annabelle films have proven to be reliable box-office performers within The Conjuring Universe. The original Annabelle (2014), directed by John R. Leonetti, grossed over $256 million worldwide on a modest $6.5 million budget. Its prequel, Annabelle: Creation (2017), helmed by David F. Sandberg, earned $306.5 million and is frequently praised for its atmospheric tension and effective scares. The trilogy concluded with Annabelle Comes Home (2019), directed by Gary Dauberman, which brought in $231 million and shifted focus to the Warrens’ daughter Judy amid a night of unleashed artifacts.

Collectively, the three Annabelle movies contributed significantly to the franchise’s total haul, which exceeds $2.7 billion across nine films (including the main Conjuring entries, The Nun duology, and The Curse of La Llorona). With such profitability — often achieved on low-to-mid-range budgets — it’s unsurprising that talk of another chapter persists.

Fan enthusiasm for Annabelle 4 has been fueled by online content creators. Trailers labeled “Annabelle 4: The Beginning of Evil” and variations like “Inheritance of Evil” or “Evil Rise Again” have circulated since early 2025, many produced by channels specializing in horror concept edits. One prominent example from December 2025 features dramatic narration and visuals suggesting the demon’s arrival predates the Mullins family’s tragedy in Creation. These videos typically carry disclaimers noting they are fan-made, yet they generate significant engagement, with some amassing hundreds of thousands of views.

On platforms like Reddit’s r/TheConjuringUniverse, discussions about a fourth Annabelle film date back several years. Threads from 2025 ask whether the series will continue post-Last Rites, with users debating if the Annabelle doll deserves a “farewell” movie similar to the main series’ conclusion. Some point to comments from producer Gary Dauberman, who has described the Annabelle entries as standalone while not entirely ruling out future installments. In interviews around the release of other projects, Dauberman has noted that while the trilogy format worked well, additional stories could be viable if they offer fresh angles.

The timeline of the Conjuring Universe adds intrigue to any potential prequel. Annabelle: Creation is set in 1955, detailing how a grieving dollmaker couple (Anthony LaPaglia and Miranda Otto) unwittingly invites a demon into their home after the death of their daughter. The entity possesses a porcelain doll intended as a vessel. Annabelle (2014) jumps forward to 1967, showing the doll terrorizing a young couple (Annabelle Wallis and Ward Horton). Annabelle Comes Home bridges to the 1970s, tying directly into the events of the first The Conjuring (2013).

A title like The Beginning of Evil implies an even earlier chapter — perhaps exploring the demon’s summoning or the doll’s creation before the Mullins tragedy. Such a move could mirror successful horror prequels that delve deeper into supernatural origins, much like The Nun (2018) and its sequel expanded on the demonic entity Valak.

Critics and audiences have mixed feelings about extending the series. Annabelle: Creation is often hailed as a high point for its practical effects, Gothic atmosphere, and strong performances from its young cast, including Talitha Bateman as Janice, whose fate connects directly to the later films. Some fans argue the trilogy wrapped neatly, with the doll contained in the Warrens’ artifact room. Others contend there’s untapped potential, especially given the real-life Annabelle doll’s lore from Ed and Lorraine Warren’s investigations.

The Warrens themselves — portrayed by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga — have been central to the universe, but Last Rites was marketed as their final on-screen outing. A prequel phase announced in late 2025 could feature younger actors in the roles, potentially opening doors for Annabelle crossovers without relying on the established leads.

Warner Bros. has shifted focus to other Conjuring projects, including a Max streaming series and a prequel film reportedly in early development as of September 2025. The success of Last Rites, which grossed nearly $495 million despite mixed reviews, has kept the door open for expansion. Horror franchises thrive on nostalgia and escalation, and Annabelle remains one of the most recognizable icons alongside Freddy Krueger and Chucky.

For now, Annabelle 4: The Beginning of Evil exists primarily in the realm of fan speculation and creative trailers. If official announcements arrive in 2026, they could reignite interest in a franchise that has consistently delivered chills and profits. Horror fans will be watching closely — and perhaps sleeping with one eye open — for any sign that evil’s origin story is ready to unfold.