The 2014 release of ‘Annabelle‘ may not have been critically acclaimed but the box office sales have a sequel in the works. While we do know that screenwriter Gary Dauberman (‘Swamp Devil’,’Bloodmonkey’) is set to return again for script duties it seems that the studio is looking for a new director as John Leonetti (‘Mortal Kombat: Annihilation’,’The Butterfly Effect 2′) will not be coming back to helm the film.

‘Annabella’ was the spinoff from ‘The Conjuring’ though at this time there is no word if New Line is planning on make it a stand alone sequel or tie it further into The Warren’s mythology and bring Vera Farmiga (‘Bates Motel’,’The Departed’) and Patrick Wilson (‘Insidious’,’Hard Candy’) back to reprise their roles as Lorraine and Ed Warren or if they will strictly be included in the direct ‘The Conjuring’ films. Previously it was mentioned that it was just a scheduling conflict so the studio might want to find a way to capitalize and see a sequel be titled: ‘The Conjuring: Annabelle’.

Either way, with how the first film ended there wouldn’t be too much of a need to include any of the actors from the original ‘Annabelle’ if they wanted to take this as a stand alone story.

‘Annabelle’ Synopsis’

She terrified you in “The Conjuring,” but this is where it all began for Annabelle. Capable of unspeakable evil, the actual doll exists locked up in an occult museum in Connecticut—visited only by a priest who blesses her twice a month. New Line Cinema’s supernatural thriller “Annabelle” begins before the evil was unleashed. John Form has found the perfect gift for his expectant wife, Mia—a beautiful, rare vintage doll in a pure white wedding dress. But Mia’s delight with Annabelle doesn’t last long. On one horrific night, their home is invaded by members of a satanic cult, who violently attack the couple. Spilled blood and terror are not all they leave behind. The cultists have conjured an entity so malevolent that nothing they did will compare to the sinister conduit to the damned that is now…Annabelle.

Source: Comic Book