Annabelle is a 2014 American supernatural horror film directed by John R. Leonetti, written by Gary Dauberman, and produced by Peter Safran and James Wan. Starring Annabelle Wallis, Ward Horton and Alfre Woodard, the film is a spin-off and prequel to the 2013 film The Conjuring, serving as the second installment in The Conjuring Universe. It was inspired by a story about a doll named Annabelle popularized by paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren.