Blab Entertainment
Zach Cregger Steps Back From Writing Gladys Prequel, Delegates Script to Zach Shields
When the buzz around a horror hit’s prequel swirled, a clear voice cut through the noise: Zach Cregger, the director‑writer behind the 2025 smash Weapons, is stepping aside from the script.
In a recent interview with Deadline, Cregger explained that he will not be the screenwriter for Gladys. "Oh, actually, Zach Shields is writing Gladys. I was developing the story with him, but he’s writing it," he said. The veteran horror filmmaker will remain on the project as a producer and story developer, while Shields—known for Godzilla vs. Kong—takes the pen.
Cregger’s admission comes after years of a work‑style that has left several projects unfinished. "My own writing process is broken," he admitted. He described a pattern of starting a script, writing a portion, and then moving on to another assignment. That habit has stalled several ventures, prompting him to hand the Gladys script to a writer who can meet a strict deadline.
The prequel will focus on Aunt Gladys, the character that Amy Madigan portrayed in Weapons. The film will delve into the backstory of the woman who, in the original movie, orchestrated the disappearance of seventeen children from Maybrook, Pennsylvania. Madigan’s performance earned her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2026.
Weapons opened in North America on August 8, 2025, and quickly became a commercial success, grossing $270 million worldwide against a $38 million production budget. Critics praised its writing and ensemble cast, cementing Cregger’s reputation as a rising talent in the horror genre.
Warner Bros. Pictures, the distributor of Weapons, has announced that Gladys will hit theaters on September 8, 2028. The prequel is being produced by New Line Cinema, a division of Warner Bros., and will be directed by Cregger’s longtime collaborator, though he will not be writing the screenplay.
Cregger’s packed schedule is partly due to his involvement in the upcoming Resident Evil reboot, slated for a 2027 release. In a separate interview with Deadline, he shared only brief updates on the Resident Evil project to avoid spoilers.
The decision to hand the Gladys script to Shields follows earlier reports that Cregger would direct the film. In a September 6, 2026 article on World of Reel, Cregger clarified that he is producing and developing the story but will not be directing or writing the prequel.
Industry analysts note that the Gladys prequel will likely build on the supernatural mystery elements that made Weapons successful. The film is expected to explore the witchcraft and manipulation that define Aunt Gladys’s character, as described in the Weapons storyline.
The release of Gladys will also coincide with Warner Bros.’s broader strategy to expand the Weapons franchise, which includes a planned Oceans prequel featuring Margot Robbie and Bradley Cooper. The studio’s slate of horror and supernatural titles is positioned to capitalize on the genre’s continued popularity.
As of now, the Gladys prequel remains in development, with production scheduled to begin in late 2026. Fans of the original film can expect a deeper look into the character that became a cultural touchstone, while Cregger’s involvement as a producer and story developer underscores his ongoing influence in shaping the franchise.
The film’s release date, production details, and the involvement of Zach Shields as screenwriter are the only confirmed elements of the project at this time. No further statements have been issued regarding casting, budget, or marketing plans.
In summary, Zach Cregger will not write or direct Gladys. He will serve as producer and story developer, while Zach Shields writes the screenplay. The prequel will premiere on September 8, 2028, under Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line Cinema, continuing the narrative established in the 2025 hit Weapons.
In a recent interview with Deadline, Cregger explained that he will not be the screenwriter for Gladys. "Oh, actually, Zach Shields is writing Gladys. I was developing the story with him, but he’s writing it," he said. The veteran horror filmmaker will remain on the project as a producer and story developer, while Shields—known for Godzilla vs. Kong—takes the pen.
Cregger’s admission comes after years of a work‑style that has left several projects unfinished. "My own writing process is broken," he admitted. He described a pattern of starting a script, writing a portion, and then moving on to another assignment. That habit has stalled several ventures, prompting him to hand the Gladys script to a writer who can meet a strict deadline.
The prequel will focus on Aunt Gladys, the character that Amy Madigan portrayed in Weapons. The film will delve into the backstory of the woman who, in the original movie, orchestrated the disappearance of seventeen children from Maybrook, Pennsylvania. Madigan’s performance earned her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2026.
Weapons opened in North America on August 8, 2025, and quickly became a commercial success, grossing $270 million worldwide against a $38 million production budget. Critics praised its writing and ensemble cast, cementing Cregger’s reputation as a rising talent in the horror genre.
Warner Bros. Pictures, the distributor of Weapons, has announced that Gladys will hit theaters on September 8, 2028. The prequel is being produced by New Line Cinema, a division of Warner Bros., and will be directed by Cregger’s longtime collaborator, though he will not be writing the screenplay.
Cregger’s packed schedule is partly due to his involvement in the upcoming Resident Evil reboot, slated for a 2027 release. In a separate interview with Deadline, he shared only brief updates on the Resident Evil project to avoid spoilers.
The decision to hand the Gladys script to Shields follows earlier reports that Cregger would direct the film. In a September 6, 2026 article on World of Reel, Cregger clarified that he is producing and developing the story but will not be directing or writing the prequel.
Industry analysts note that the Gladys prequel will likely build on the supernatural mystery elements that made Weapons successful. The film is expected to explore the witchcraft and manipulation that define Aunt Gladys’s character, as described in the Weapons storyline.
The release of Gladys will also coincide with Warner Bros.’s broader strategy to expand the Weapons franchise, which includes a planned Oceans prequel featuring Margot Robbie and Bradley Cooper. The studio’s slate of horror and supernatural titles is positioned to capitalize on the genre’s continued popularity.
As of now, the Gladys prequel remains in development, with production scheduled to begin in late 2026. Fans of the original film can expect a deeper look into the character that became a cultural touchstone, while Cregger’s involvement as a producer and story developer underscores his ongoing influence in shaping the franchise.
The film’s release date, production details, and the involvement of Zach Shields as screenwriter are the only confirmed elements of the project at this time. No further statements have been issued regarding casting, budget, or marketing plans.
In summary, Zach Cregger will not write or direct Gladys. He will serve as producer and story developer, while Zach Shields writes the screenplay. The prequel will premiere on September 8, 2028, under Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line Cinema, continuing the narrative established in the 2025 hit Weapons.
