Written By: Sam Santiago
While most of the attention at San Diego Comic-Con has been focused on his upcoming Resident Evil reboot, another project quietly stole the spotlight for horror fans. Cregger shared a long-awaited update on Gladys, the upcoming prequel to Weapons, and while progress is being made, don't expect to see it anytime soon.
Speaking during Collider's Directors on Directing panel, Cregger revealed that the screenplay is currently in the works and said the team is taking the project seriously as they continue developing the story.
According to Cregger, Weapons deliberately left Gladys wrapped in mystery. Rather than explain everything about the character in the first film, the idea was to let audiences fill in the blanks. Now, he's ready to pull back the curtain, promising a story filled with twists, surprises, and plenty of the same unpredictable energy that made Weapons such an unforgettable experience.
We're cautiously optimistic.
Horror has a habit of ruining great villains by explaining every little detail about them. Sometimes the mystery is exactly what makes a character terrifying. Once every question gets answered, a little of that magic disappears.
Fortunately, Cregger hasn't given us much reason to doubt him.
After Barbarian, plenty of people wondered whether it was beginner's luck. Then Weapons arrived and proved he wasn't interested in making safe, formulaic horror movies. Instead of spoon feeding audiences answers, he built a story that constantly shifted perspectives, forcing viewers to put the pieces together themselves. It's the kind of filmmaking that sticks with you long after you leave the theater.
And then there's Gladys herself.
Amy Madigan turned in one of last year's most unsettling horror performances, creating a character that somehow managed to be both mysterious and unforgettable. She didn't need mountains of dialogue or endless exposition to become one of the film's biggest talking points.
That also makes us a little nervous. The last thing we want is a prequel that answers questions nobody was asking simply because studios think every successful horror movie needs an expanded universe. Thankfully, Cregger's comments suggest that's not the case. From everything he's shared so far, it sounds like Gladys exists because there's another story worth telling, not because someone in a boardroom demanded one.
Cregger won't be directing this time around, however. With his attention focused on bringing Resident Evil back to theaters, J.T. Mollner will step behind the camera while Cregger remains creatively involved behind the scenes.
Now comes the painful part. Gladys isn't expected to arrive in theaters until Sept. 8, 2028. That's a long wait, especially after how much of an impact Weapons had on horror fans.
Still, if taking a little extra time means preserving everything that made Weapons so special, we're willing to be patient... even if we'd really rather not.