Zach Cregger Shares New Details on the WEAPONS Prequel GLADYS and the Origins of the Creepy Villain

A lot of people walked away from Weapons thinking Aunt Gladys was one of the most disturbing horror characters they’d seen in years. The good news for horror fans is that her story isn't over. In fact, it's only just beginning.

During the Directors on Directing panel at San Diego Comic-Con, Zach Cregger offered an exciting update on the long-discussed Weapons prequel, Gladys, confirming that the project is actively moving forward and will finally pull back the curtain on the twisted history of Amy Madigan's unforgettable character.

Instead of picking up where Weapons left off, Gladys will travel back in time to reveal how Aunt Gladys became the chilling figure audiences met in the 2025 horror sensation.

Cregger explained that leaving her past unexplored was the right choice for Weapons because so much of the movie relied on mystery. Now that audiences know who she is, he's ready to tell the story that came before.

Without giving away any major plot details, Cregger hinted that fans should expect plenty of surprises along the way. He explained that he believes there's "an amazing story" to tell about Gladys' past, adding that the screenplay is still being written and is "moving in the right direction."

That should be welcome news for fans who helped turn Weapons into one of the biggest horror hits of 2025. Released by Warner Bros., the film followed the terrifying mystery of children disappearing overnight and went on to earn roughly $270 million worldwide against a reported $38 million budget.

The movie was praised by both critics and audiences, but one of its biggest standouts was Amy Madigan, whose haunting performance as Aunt Gladys earned her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

She was joined by an impressive ensemble that included Julia Garner, Josh Brolin, Alden Ehrenreich, Austin Abrams, and Benedict Wong.

Even with Gladys gaining momentum, Cregger has plenty on his plate before returning to that nightmare. His next film is Sony's Resident Evil reboot, which will tell a brand-new story set within the franchise's established canon instead of adapting one of the video games directly. After that, he'll move on to The Flood, an original sci-fi project that he also wrote.

For now, Gladys remains in development, with Cregger writing the screenplay alongside Zach Shields. The film is currently scheduled to hit theaters on September 8, 2028. While Cregger is steering the story creatively, it hasn't yet been confirmed whether he'll also direct the film.

If Weapons proved anything, it's that Cregger knows how to keep audiences guessing while delivering unforgettable horror. If he can do the same while exploring Aunt Gladys' terrifying origins, Gladys could end up being one of the most anticipated horror movies on the horizon.