As “Weapons” breakout character Aunt Gladys’ story continues with a highly-anticipated prequel movie, Zach Shields (“Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire”) has been tapped to co-write the screenplay alongside filmmaker Zach Cregger.
“Gladys” is the working title for the New Line and Warner Bros. movie, which has been in the works for months following the horror movie’s breakout box office and critical success. “Weapons” grossed a staggering $270 million worldwide and earned star Amy Madigan the best supporting actress Oscar for her performance as the devilishly deranged character. (Madigan also won SAG-AFTRA’s Actor Award and the Critics Choice Award for supporting actress and was nominated for a Golden Globe, among other prizes.)
At the Oscars, Madigan expressed her excitement about reprising her role in the prequel, no matter when the project ultimately came to fruition. “We know how long stuff takes,” she told press at the ceremony. “We know what this business is like, and nothing’s real until it is, and timing and all those things. But if it worked out, that would be great, because I trust Zach [Cregger], and he’s got a lot of wacky ideas.”
It’s not yet known exactly what the storyline for the “Gladys” prequel will be. Still, any backstory about how Gladys devolved into a parasitic witch who kidnaps children and rocks a distinct “deranged grandma” style with ginger curls and glasses would be welcome. (Gladys’ quirky look was one of the top Halloween costumes of 2025, after all.)
The Oscar win was also significant as it represented how the industry is giving wider consideration to the horror genre, which Madigan affirmed has been unfairly “looked at like you’re at the little kids at Thanksgiving.” But the data proves that horror sells tickets. New Line surpassed $1 billion at the global box office in 2025 from horror titles alone. (The company is behind three billion-dollar horror franchises “The Conjuring” universe ($2.8 billion), the “It” movies ($1.2 billion), and the “Final Destination” franchise ($1 billion).
Cregger, whose “Resident Evil” movie is slated for release this September, and Vertigo Entertainment’s Roy Lee and Miri Yoon are returning to produce the new movie.
Shields’ hiring continues his long-term relationship with Warner Bros. following his work on multiple Godzilla and Kong projects. He most recently worked on WB and Legendary’s “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire” and he served as a consulting producer on the Apple TV series “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters”; before that, he co-wrote “Godzilla vs. Kong” and “Godzilla: King of the Monsters,” as well as Universal’s “Krampus,” with Michael Dougherty. In television, Shields was a co‑executive producer on Alma Har’el’s “Lady in the Lake,” starring Natalie Portman, for Apple.
Cregger is repped by CAA, Artists First and Karl Austen and Michael Auerbach. Shields is repped by Range Media Partners and Hirsch Wallerstein Hayum Matlof and Fishman.
Deadline first reported Shields’ hiring.
Zach Shields and Zach Cregger
Shields: Hama Sanders / Cregger: Gilbert Flores for Variety