Barbarian and Weapons Director Wrote a Gotham DC Movie (But Don’t Expect To See It Soon)

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After the tremendous success of his 2022 horror film “Barbarian“, director Zach Cregger has become highly sought-after in Hollywood. He swiftly capitalized on this success by creating “Weapons”, a mystery-shrouded horror production featuring Josh Brolin and Julia Garner, scheduled for release by New Line Cinema in August 2025. Most recently, Sony entrusted Cregger with their popular “Resident Evil” series, hiring him to both write and direct a theatrical reboot due out in 2026. Despite his busy schedule with high-profile projects, rumors suggest that Cregger has also covertly written a script for a horror movie based on DC Comics’ Gotham City, although he has not yet formally presented it to DC Studios.

The story about Cregger’s script re-emerged through an article by entertainment insider Daniel Richtman, stating that the director had drafted a script for a Joker and Harley Quinn team-up movie to present to DC Studios. However, this was shortly corrected by another source, Apocalyptic Horseman, who often provides accurate information in the fan community. According to his report, the script does not center around the famous duo at all.

To clarify, there’s currently no official development of a new movie featuring the Joker and Harley Quinn. A script that has been written by Zach is more of a fun project, as he himself stated he hasn’t presented it to any production company yet. The storyline doesn’t revolve around the Joker or Harley; instead, it focuses on one of their henchmen.

— Apocalyptic Horseman (@ApocHorseman) July 24, 2025

To set the record straight, there isn’t any Joker & Harley movie currently being developed. The script that Zach wrote was just for his own enjoyment and he hasn’t presented it to anyone yet. In fact, the story doesn’t focus on Joker or Harley; instead, it revolves around a henchman, providing an intriguing glimpse into the dark and brutal reality that Gotham’s ordinary citizens and petty criminals face due to Batman’s rogues. Fans should keep in mind that this project might not ever become a reality since it’s not in development at DC.

Will Zach Cregger’s DC Movie Ever Be Made?

Initially, Cregger disclosed the script’s existence in 2022 during an interview with ComicBook. He shared that he had a script he was deeply invested in, which was set within the world of Batman and was his personal favorite among his works. However, as of now, he hasn’t discussed it with anyone from Warner Bros. or DC, expressing hope for future possibilities.

The initial remarks suggest that he penned the screenplay well before DC Studios, under James Gunn and Peter Safran’s management, shaped their new DC Universe. Moreover, these comments indicate that Cregger’s project was initially envisioned as an independent, non-continuity film, akin to a personal endeavor rather than part of a connected universe.

In the past, such a self-contained project might have faced challenges, but the current leadership at DC Studios has established a system that could effortlessly incorporate such a movie. The studio’s recent inclination towards genre narratives, as demonstrated by the forthcoming R-rated Clayface horror film, suggests a willingness to move beyond traditional superhero movies.

Moreover, Gunn’s emphasis on director-driven stories where script quality is paramount could provide an opportunity for Cregger. In simpler terms, these comments imply that the script was written before the current leadership at DC Studios and it was designed as a standalone project. The new management has created a flexible structure that can accommodate such films, as shown by their interest in genre movies like R-rated horror films. Furthermore, Gunn’s focus on director-driven stories could potentially open doors for Cregger.

If Cregger’s Gotham script doesn’t align with the broader DC Universe storyline, it could still be given the go-ahead under the “Elseworlds” label. This tag is reserved for productions that don’t conform to the regular DC Universe timeline, such as Matt Reeves’ The Batman Part II. This gives the studio the freedom to support innovative projects from talented directors without compromising their ongoing saga. By labeling it “Elseworlds”, Cregger would be allowed to create his movie as originally intended, without needing to connect it to the DCU narrative involving other heroes and villains. With Cregger’s growing reputation in Hollywood and his obvious enthusiasm for this particular story, there’s a good chance we’ll get to see his Gotham film on the big screen.

Weapons is scheduled to be released on August 8, 2025.

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2025-07-24 10:39