As Halloween approaches, expect to see a flood of grown-ups donning garish orange wigs, smudged lipstick, and oversized glasses, all inspired by the unforgettable Aunt Gladys from Zach Cregger’s chilling horror hit, Weapons. Portrayed by Amy Madigan, this quirky character has captured audiences’ imaginations in the R-rated film, which is dominating theaters much like Jordan Peele’s Get Out did back in 2017. With its bold storytelling, Weapons is already generating Oscar buzz, and Madigan’s performance could put her in the running for a nomination.
But Aunt Gladys’s story might not end with Weapons. Insiders for The Hollywood Reporter revealed that Warner Bros. and New Line, the studios behind the film, are in early discussions with Cregger to develop a prequel diving into the mysterious origins of this eccentric aunt who shakes up the town.
The structure of Weapons unfolds through distinct chapters focused on individual characters, and sources say Cregger originally crafted a segment exploring Gladys’s backstory. To keep the film’s runtime in check, that section was cut, but its ideas could now form the backbone of a standalone story. While no deals are finalized and no timeline exists, the film’s massive success has sparked serious interest in expanding the Weapons universe.
Cregger’s packed schedule adds complexity to the prequel’s prospects. He’s currently in Prague, deep in pre-production for his next project—a high-profile Resident Evil reboot for Columbia Pictures, which comes with a reported $20 million paycheck. This hefty sum is remarkable for a director on just his third major feature, following his lesser-known 2011 indie The Civil War on Drugs (co-directed) and 2009’s Miss March for Searchlight. The Resident Evil reboot is slated to hit theaters on September 18, 2026.
