Warner Bros.’ $270M Surprise Horror Hit Weapons Is Officially Becoming a Franchise

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Horror movies have long been a favorite among audiences, but recently they’ve gained unprecedented recognition during awards shows. Following its Oscar win, it’s now confirmed that this film will be the start of a new series.

Zach Cregger, the director of the popular horror film Barbarian, is now working on a prequel. Barbarian was a critical and commercial success, and according to reports, the prequel is currently in development under the title Gladys.

This update includes a new writer. Cregger will collaborate with Zach Shields, known for his work on Krampus and Godzilla vs. Kong, to write the script for the upcoming prequel, which will focus on the villain from the 2025 film.

Weapons Originally Followed Aunt Gladys More

Amy Madigan won an Oscar for her performance as Gladys, and received several other awards, including Best Supporting Actress. Before the win, which was a long-awaited achievement, she told Deadline about her character, describing her as a woman who is determined and takes action.

She acknowledged that Aunt Gladys’s approach might be a bit unconventional, but she believes that confidence is something all women in their field—herself included—should strive for. Ultimately, she sees something positive in it, considering it a success for both Aunt Gladys and herself.

Shortly after the release of the popular, star-studded horror film in August 2025, discussions began about a certain aspect of it. Many people believed this element was more significant than what was explicitly shown in the movie.

Back in October 2026, Cregger revealed he’d previously written a script with a similar premise to the ‘Gladys’ story. That earlier version was told through the eyes of a child, focusing on a strange woman who abducts him from school, takes over his home, and essentially replaces his parents. The story centered on the child’s struggle to escape her control, but Cregger ultimately put the project aside, noting it was a very old idea.

The horror movie was excellent as it was. The first part of the film centers on the strange disappearance of nearly an entire class of children, all of whom leave their homes at 2:17 AM. While the children’s teacher, Justine, becomes the primary suspect, a deeper, more sinister force seems to be at work in the quiet town.

The movie featured a strong cast, including Josh Brolin, Julia Garner, Alden Ehrenreich, Austin Abrams, Benedict Wong, and, of course, Keri Russell as Madigan.

The film Weapons was a critical and commercial success. Critics gave it a 93% approval rating, and audiences followed with an 85% score. It earned the ‘Certified Fresh’ and ‘Verified Hot’ distinctions and impressively earned $270 million at the box office on a budget of just $38 million.

Zach Cregger Is Busy With a Hit Video Game Adaptation

Beyond the new Weapons prequel he’s working on, the actor recently talked about the film, jokingly saying he’s prepared for any criticism his changes might receive. Like the Fallout series on Prime Video, this adaptation will also include entirely new characters.

He explained that he enjoys the thrill of a story where the main character is fighting for survival against overwhelming odds. He felt this type of experience was missing from most movies he’d seen.

The movie Resident Evil will be released in theaters on September 18th. And you can currently watch Weapons on HBO Max and Prime Video.

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2026-04-01 23:16