At San Diego Comic-Con on Thursday, writer and director Zach Cregger provided an update on the status of his Aunt Gladys prequel film. The film, which has been in development since August 2025, is currently in the scriptwriting phase, with Cregger and co-writer Zach Shields working diligently to bring the story to life.
Cregger expressed his excitement about the project, stating that he loved working with Amy Madigan on the original film and believes that the prequel has the potential to be just as captivating. ‘I think there’s an amazing story to be told about where Gladys comes from and how she became what we know her as,’ he said. ‘It’s got a lot of twists and turns and mysteries and crazy things, kind of like Weapons does, and I think it’s gonna be great.’
The script, which is currently in process, is being taken very seriously by Cregger and his team. Despite the active work on the prequel, Cregger reassured fans that it will not be his next film – that honor will go to sci-fi thriller The Flood, produced by Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment, which already has a release date slated for August 11, 2028. Gladys will follow The Flood, while Cregger is also producing a Siren Head film in the creepypasta horror space.
Cregger’s passion for the project is evident, and fans are eagerly anticipating the release of the prequel. With the working title currently being simply ‘Gladys’, it’s clear that the focus is on delivering a compelling and engaging story that will satisfy fans of the original film.
During the panel discussion, Cregger also touched on his approach to directing Resident Evil, which he described as an ‘all-out’ effort to create a straightforward story. ‘I wanted to see if I could put my foot all the way down on the gas pedal and not let up until the end of the movie,’ he said. ‘That was the challenge: Can I just be completely unrelenting? You guys will tell me if that’s the case.’
Resident Evil is set to premiere on September 18, with Cregger set to pass through IGN’s studio at Comic-Con to talk about the film, along with star Austin Abrams. Fans were stoked to learn a few weeks ago that the runtime would barely crack 90 minutes, making for a fast-paced and action-packed viewing experience.
The interest in an Aunt Gladys prequel film gained traction barely a week after Weapons first came out in August 2025. The writer and director confirmed in September 2025 that the development talks with Warner Bros., which distributed Weapons, were ‘not bullshit.’ In April 2026 — not long after Madigan won Best Supporting Actress for her performance as Gladys at the Oscars — the trades reported that Zach Shields (Godzilla: King of the Monsters), would be joining Cregger as co-writer on the script.
Cregger’s enthusiasm for the project is evident, and fans are eagerly awaiting the release of the prequel. With the working title currently being simply ‘Gladys’, it’s clear that the focus is on delivering a compelling and engaging story that will satisfy fans of the original film.
During the panel discussion, Cregger also spoke about his other projects, including The Flood and the Siren Head film. It’s clear that he is committed to delivering high-quality content that will captivate audiences, and fans are eagerly anticipating the release of his upcoming films.
With the script for the Aunt Gladys prequel in process, fans are eagerly awaiting the release of the film. Cregger’s passion for the project is evident, and it’s clear that he is committed to delivering a compelling and engaging story that will satisfy fans of the original film.
