Despite the seeming finality of her character's fate in Insidious, Lin Shaye's Elise Rainier has returned in both sequel and prequel alike, with her last appearance being in 2015's Insidious: Chapter 3. Well it looks like Elise and the darkness she seeks to vanquish will be returning for a fourth round of battle, as Insidious: Chapter 4 has just been confirmed for 2017.
No story details have been revealed, or any other cast members for that matter, but The Wrap confirms that the latest entry in the James Wan originated franchise will see the return of Shaye's paranormal investigator. In addition to Lin Shaye's participation, the release date of October 20, 2017 has been penciled in for Insidious: Chapter 4, with director Adam Robitel being named as the director, and series co-creator Leigh Whannell as the film's writer. Robitel is probably best known for directing his previous horror effort, The Taking Of Deborah Logan, another supernatural story of possession.
Despite the lack of official details involving Insidious: Chapter 4's story, it's to be assumed that the plot will be another bridge story between Elise's emergence from retirement in Insidious: Chapter 3 and her death in Insidious. The former film's cliffhanger shows her actions creating the feud between herself and the Lipstick-Face Demon that would eventually take her life at the end of Insidious. Of course, looking at the way Insidious: Chapter 2 handled Elise's fate, this isn't the only option, but merely the best one available.
With Insidious: Chapter 2 setting up Elise as a useful spirit that could help former partners Specs and Tucker in their further investigations into "The Further" and all of its incursions into our world, there's a possibility that Insidous: Chapter 4 could tell a story that's set in the modern day. In fact, if the folks behind the successful franchise wanted to set a logical end point for Elise Rainer's story, they could craft this most recent film into a swan song that ties up her story, leaving future installments able to deal with new ghosts and a completely fresh slate of new characters.
Were we to put money on which option Universal and Blumhouse would be banking on, we'd peg Insidious: Chapter 4 as another prequel, as Lin Shaye is kind of the lynch-pin of the series. Without Elise, any future chapters of the Insidious saga would more than likely fail, as the story would feel disjointed from the rest of the series. If you want to sink the franchise that started in 2011 with strong word of mouth, and seems to have continued with a fairly strong reputation for miniature budgets and maximum earnings, that's the way to do it.
Insidious: Chapter 4 will possess theaters on October 20th, 2017.
