Zach Cregger Gives Update on WEAPONS Aunt Gladys Prequel

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It’s notoriously difficult to predict what audiences will love, and confidently declaring a hit often backfires in Hollywood. However, Zach Cregger, the writer and director of *Weapons*, likely anticipated that Aunt Gladys (played by Amy Madigan) would become a memorable horror character. Even during the film’s initial success this summer, people started talking about a prequel focusing on Gladys. Cregger recently confirmed to *Fangoria* that a Gladys prequel is indeed in development.

According to Cregger, a sequel is genuinely being discussed with Warner Bros. He shared with *Fangoria* that he has a story idea he’s very enthusiastic about and that he’d actually prepared it before the first movie was even released. He assured readers it’s not just talk – he was ready to go with the concept beforehand.

During a recent press event, Cregger discussed Madigan’s acting and how they created Gladys’ unique look and personality.

We were careful not to reveal any plot details before the movie’s release, but now that it’s out, everyone’s praising Amy Madigan’s performance. Could you share your experience working with her and how you developed the character of Gladys to be both believable and frightening?

Amy is amazing because she can seamlessly switch between being incredibly energetic and approachable – think a lively, friendly person from the Midwest – and being intensely focused and calculating. I felt this immediately when I met her. It was like I’d finally found the person I’d been envisioning for the role since I first came up with the idea. Honestly, she embodied everything I imagined, to the point where it felt like I wasn’t even writing the part *for* anyone specific until I met her. It was almost subconscious.

When I first met her, it felt like she was everything I had ever imagined, but she was already a fully formed person, which was a bit confusing. I wasn’t sure how to process it. Working with her was wonderful. She was incredibly professional and made everything better. It was surprising how much she trusted me, especially during the scene with Marcus in the principal’s office. I was simply suggesting things for her to try while behind the camera – like, “Try a really big laugh!” – and she would immediately do them, and they always worked perfectly.

She’s remarkably down-to-earth and naturally gifted. It really shows how talented she is as an actress – she’s incredibly skilled and seems to pick things up instantly. She’s a true talent.

She definitely has a very memorable look, and it’s intentionally exaggerated – it’s even startling at points in the film. I was curious how much work went into finding the right balance. It was a process of figuring out what was *too* scary versus *too* over-the-top, you know?

We always made sure things weren’t too frightening. We definitely avoided anything like giving the character fangs or making it overly scary.

Honestly, finding the right look for Gladys was all about feel – which wig just *felt* like her. It was amazing when we landed on the bangs, they were perfect! And that slightly unusual shape was key. We tried *so* many wigs, and experimented with everything – her prosthetic nose, ears, and teeth. Everyone on the team really left their mark on creating her whole look, and it was a collaborative effort to get it just right.

The idea really started with two things that always stuck with me. First, I’ve always loved Cindy Sherman’s photography, especially her *Self Portraits*. The other was a scene in *Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me* – when McLaughlin arrives, there’s a woman on the runway doing this strange, unsettling dance. I remember seeing that as a kid and being absolutely terrified by it. I’m not even sure if it was *meant* to be scary, but it really got under my skin, and I wanted to explore that feeling creatively.

Weapons is available for digital rental and purchase now. Physical media release drops October 14.

Kyle Anderson is a Senior Editor at TopMob and the host of the “Laser Focus” podcast, where he explores pop culture in depth. He also writes film and TV reviews, and you can find him on Letterboxd.

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2025-09-23 21:33