Warrior Nun Saved: Thoughts on the Film Trilogy and Beyond

Warrior Nun is only just beginning.

We saved Warrior Nun.

Fan efforts to keep this action-packed, sapphic, highly imaginative series from being gone for good have paid off. In June, series creator Simon Barry announced that Warrior Nun would be returning following the end of Season 2. Details were sparse, but it seemed clear it would be coming back in a visual format. Whether that was with a new season or a movie was anyone’s guess. And the guessing continued when Barry unveiled “SaveWarriorNun.com,” a website featuring a countdown that ended on August 15th (or 16th, depending on which part of the world you’re in).

In the announcement, executive producer Dean English unveiled the next chapter in Warrior Nun’s story. The once-cancelled Netflix series that had been revived thanks to fan efforts would be coming back in movie format. But not just as a single film. As a film trilogy. There’s been no confirmation surrounding who will be returning to play their roles from the series, nor if the movie will be continuation of the two seasons we currently have. But both can be inferred from English’s words—and because a continuation is really the only logical next step. This was made especially potent when he announced the second big piece of news: Intentions to expand. While the upcoming Warrior Nun trilogy will continue the story of Ava and her friends in the OCS, the films are meant to establish a whole Warrior Nun universe following different characters from the series across multiple TV shows and films. A very ambitious announcement, and something that indicates Warrior Nun could be around for many years to come.

In previous interviews and talks surrounding how long he thinks the series will last, Barry has floated that there would ideally be five to seven seasons of Warrior Nun. And, with the announcement of a film trilogy, it seems Barry’s initial vision could still come to fruition despite being in a different format. If we assume Warrior Nun was originally planned to be a five-season series, then the upcoming movie trilogy can be considered condensed versions of what seasons 3, 4, and 5 would have been. Given the already tight pacing of the Warrior Nun TV series, it will be interesting to see how English, Barry, and other writers condense their ideas for a full season of TV into a single movie. Especially if they have big plans for how the rest of the show’s story would have gone. Because Warrior Nun does such a great job at always giving viewers important information with every scene, there’s no doubt the writers for the movie will be able to do the same. But, depending on just how much they had originally planned, I could easily see these movies being around two hours each—at the shortest.

A trilogy also means there is a lot left for the story to explore. At the end of Warrior Nun season 2, there are three key threads that are left open for continuation; 1.) Ava going through the Ark to Reya’s dimension; 2.) Lilith’s cryptic belief that a “holy war” is on its way; and 3.) Beatrice leaving the OCS. All of these threads feel like they could be resolved with just one movie. And yet, we’re getting three. This means there’s a lot more going on in the Warrior Nun universe beyond these three story threads that we aren’t seeing much of yet. These could have to do with the rebuilding of the OCS, or Reya’s role in everything that’s happened so far. The possibilities are truly endless with what Warrior Nun will choose to focus on, and how all of it will tie into the larger narrative. But, with the movie trilogy setting up a very lengthy new chapter for Warrior Nun, there’s no real way to know what will happen until there’s more information.

Personally, I believe the next step Warrior Nun takes will be exploring Reya’s dimension more thoroughly. Despite being described as a Hellish place, it has yet to appear in Warrior Nun itself. Instead, we only hear about what it’s like from Lilith, Adriel, and Michael, who all describe it in similar ways. I believe the next step for the story is to follow Ava into the dimension post-Season 2, revealing more about Reya’s role in everything and how exactly her world works. This could include familiar faces like Michael, whose talk of how death in Reya’s world works differently could signal his return. It might also give more context to Lilith’s mention of a holy war. After all, if Adriel has been defeated and Reya is on the OCS’ side (to an extent), then who is the enemy? Warrior Nun’s first movie will likely address this, while movies two and three will remain uncharted territory for now. Whatever happens, though, it’s clear Reya’s world and Ava’s time there will have a major part to play.

But the trilogy is only the beginning when it comes to just how many endless possibilities Warrior Nun’s future holds. English specifically mentioned that there may be TV shows and movies that aren’t directly connected to the upcoming trilogy, which could feature characters already present in the Warrior Nun universe. A universe that, it seems, English hopes to expand far beyond Ava’s initial story. The speculation regarding this is endless. A Lilith spinoff. An Ava and Beatrice sequel. An Areala and Adriel prequel. Or even period pieces about different Warrior Nuns in different time periods, like Sister Melanie. There is a genuinely endless supply of stories that could be told in the Warrior Nun world, all of which could further expand the stories of its characters and the history of the OCS. The only question now is: Which stories will be prioritized?

I think the obvious one is the one most people want to see: A prequel starring Father Vincent. This could be the perfect opportunity to flesh him out in new and unique ways, telling the tale of how a cartel member became a man of God. It could also be an excellent way of showing how Adriel preyed on his faith—possibly even from a young age—to make him think what he was doing throughout Warrior Nun seasons 1 and 2 was God’s will. The series could be a character study of Vincent, showing how the vulnerability of a young man going down a dark path can be used by other forces for nefarious reasons. In a bubble, the show may feel somewhat tragic. But it could also give more context to the redemption arc Vincent goes through in the main series. The show would also feel the most different from Warrior Nun, as the series would likely be more grounded compared to the fantastical events of the core series. A Vincent prequel could show not only his origins, but also how the Warrior Nun universe is ripe for many different types of storytelling.

Now that a Warrior Nun trilogy is coming, with the possibility of even more stories for the series’ characters after, it’s clear English, Barry, and everyone involved has faith in the franchise’s longevity thanks to the campaign that saved it. A campaign that will no doubt prove their plans right. After all, there are many people—myself included—who never knew about Warrior Nun until after the show was cancelled. New fans who will tune into a streaming service or buy a ticket in theaters to see how Warrior Nun’s story continues. This feels like the start of something truly special. A niche universe that fans of fantasy, action, and romance can flock to while getting equal enjoyment from it. Warrior Nun is a truly precious series, and one that will no doubt continue to impress as this life marches on.

I can’t wait to learn more about Warrior Nun’s bright future.

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