Director Confirms Aunt Gladys Prequel In The Weapons Universe Is Finally Happening
Weapons director Zach Cregger says Aunt Gladys is getting her own prequel, revealing the spinoff was conceived before the film even opened and that early talks with Warner Bros are already underway to expand the story.
Well, that did not take long. Zach Cregger is already spinning up a prequel to his horror thriller Weapons, and it is all about Aunt Gladys. He talked through where it came from, how early he had it in his pocket, and what is next for him (hint: his Resident Evil is not the one you are expecting). This all came out of a new chat with Fangoria.
Aunt Gladys is getting her own prequel
"It is real and I have been talking to Warner Bros. about it. There is a story and I am pretty excited about it. It is not bullshit... I was ready. I had it kind of in my pocket before the movie came out."
That is Cregger, refreshingly blunt, confirming that Warner Bros. is developing a Weapons prequel focused on Amy Madigan's wonderfully unnerving Aunt Gladys. He says the idea was scoped out before anyone saw the film, and he was basically waiting to pull the trigger.
Quick refresher: what is Weapons?
Cregger's film tracks a single night where children start vanishing, and the domino effect that follows. He is very clear it was a true team effort, not a solo victory lap, praising the crew and cast for bringing their best and making him "the beneficiary" of a lot of talent.
- Cast: Julia Garner, Josh Brolin, Benedict Wong, Alden Ehrenreich, Amy Madigan, and Austin Abrams
- Status: Out now on digital; 4K, Blu-ray, and DVD hit on October 14
Building Aunt Gladys: Cindy Sherman meets Twin Peaks
Cregger singled out Madigan's performance and dug into the very specific visual DNA behind Aunt Gladys. First stop: photographer Cindy Sherman, whose self-portraits sometimes use light prosthetics to create that uncanny, not-quite-right face. That is a direct influence on the character's unsettling look.
The other touchstone is pure TV deep cut: the first episode of Twin Peaks. When Kyle MacLachlan's Agent Cooper steps off the plane, there is a woman on the tarmac in a loud, brightly colored outfit, pulling a strange peacock-y pose. That off-kilter image stuck with Cregger as a kid and clearly bled into Aunt Gladys's vibe. Inside baseball? Definitely. But it tracks when you see how the character reads onscreen.
About that Resident Evil reboot
"I am not telling Leon's story. You know what I mean? I am not using any of the characters from the games. I am telling my story that exists in the world of Resident Evil 2."
Cregger's next film is a Resident Evil reboot for Sony Pictures, but he is not adapting Leon, Claire, or any legacy protagonists. He is building a new story that lives inside the Resident Evil 2 world. Bold swing, and it should keep fans guessing.
Bottom line
An Aunt Gladys prequel is officially in motion at Warner Bros., the seeds were planted before Weapons even hit theaters, and the character's look comes from a very nerdy mix of Cindy Sherman and Twin Peaks weirdness. Meanwhile, Cregger is taking Resident Evil in a fresh direction. Busy guy, interesting choices.