The Uncanny Future of Elise: Exclusive Insights into the Insidious Movies Franchise Pitched by its Star

Lin Shaye, who has become the de facto protagonist of the series, is now pitching her ideas for future Insidious movies that focus on her character, Elise. Elise was introduced as a psychic in the first Insidious movie, where she helped the haunted Lambert family without their knowledge. Although Elise was murdered by a possessed Josh at the end of the first movie, she continued to appear as a spirit in Insidious: Chapter 2 and was alive in the prequels, Chapter 3 and The Last Key, delving into her backstory.

Screen Rant recently spoke exclusively with Lin Shaye about the future of the Insidious franchise after The Red Door, which may serve as the final chapter. Shaye discussed her thoughts on potential sequels that put Elise in the spotlight, confirming that she has ideas for a story treatment for her character's next steps. She also mentioned the possibility of collaborating with her son on other ideas. Read below to see what Shaye shared.

How Elise's Story Could Continue After The Red Door

Sure, I have some intriguing ideas in mind. I've contemplated crafting a small narrative based on my thoughts about her whereabouts and activities in The Further. It truly allows one's imagination to soar since The Further is portrayed as an undefined realm, aside from the presence of fog on the floor. [Laughs] Therefore, it's safe to say that my musings hold some promising potential. I may consider compiling a lookbook or collaborating with my son, as he possesses excellent writing and creative skills. Of course, I would seek the necessary approvals before proceeding with any actual implementation. However, in terms of exploring my own imagination, there are several captivating stories that I can envision.

(From left to right) LEIGH WHANNELL and LIN SHAYE portray Elise Reiner in INSIDIOUS

As demonstrated in Insidious: Chapter 3 and The Last Key, a compelling way to further Elise's narrative in the franchise would be through a prequel. The most recent prequel effectively tied back to the first film, uncovering that Elise and her nieces unintentionally played a role in the Lipstick-Face Demon's targeting of Dalton Lambert. With that in mind, Shaye has exclusively expressed to Screen Rant her desire to explore more of her niece Imogen's journey, as she follows in Elise's footsteps with her psychic abilities.

The decision to end the story in that way without further exploring the characters has always intrigued me. The franchise has introduced new characters in different installments that never reappear or have their storylines progressed. It's possible that we may all end up in The Further, creating an open-ended and beautiful universe.

Shaye's statement about Elise's potential eternal existence in The Further suggests that her story could continue in future Insidious films. One such project, the spinoff Thread featuring Kumail Nanjiani and Mandy Moore, is currently in development. While details about the story are scarce, producer James Wan has confirmed that it will draw inspiration from The Further, just like The Conjuring Universe, which implies that Elise could make a return alongside the spiritual realm.

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Elise's future in the Insidious franchise could take a different direction through her continued collaboration with her colleagues, Specs and Tucker. This possibility is hinted at in Chapter 2's suspenseful conclusion, when Elise appears to encounter the Lipstick-Face Demon once more. The idea of ghost hunters investigating paranormal cases, with their psychic abilities solely focused on the spiritual realm, is an uncommon concept in the horror genre. This unique approach could raise the stakes for Elise as she strives to safeguard her loved ones in the realm of the living.