Zach Cregger is reuniting with Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group’s New Line division for his next original feature. Cregger, who directed last year’s acclaimed Oscar-winning horror hit “Weapons” for the company, has written and will direct “The Flood,” an original sci-fi thriller that the studio is moving at full speed to release on August 11, 2028.
The project reunites him with his “Weapons” producers Roy Lee and Miri Yoon of Vertigo Entertainment and interestingly has him working with avowed Cregger fan Steven Spielberg. The latter’s Amblin Entertainment is also producing “Flood.”
The announcement, made by Warners’ Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy in the last few minutes of the studio’s presentation at CinemaCon in Las Vegas, was light on details but filled with excitement. While the plot is being kept under wraps, it is known that the project was originally set up at Netflix. And while Cregger’s previous projects have been modern-set horror thriller freakouts, this one is described as being very much in the science fiction mold.
“Zach is the rarest of filmmakers, fluent in every genre he touches, and we’re excited to continue our partnership,” said New Line president Richard Brener in a statement.
Cregger stated, “I’m incredibly excited to continue my partnership with Mike, Pam, Richard, and the teams at Warner Bros. and New Line. They are true champions of bold creativity, united by a shared ambition to deliver unforgettable theatrical experiences for audiences. That’s the dream for any filmmaker.”
“Weapons,” which New Line/Warners won in a fierce bidding war, blew up last August’s box office, becoming an unexpected hit and sensation. It earned almost $270 million worldwide on a $38 million budget and introduced the character Aunt Gladys into the pop culture ecosphere. Amy Madigan was recognized with an Academy Award for her role. A prequel is now in the works, with Cregger co-writing it with Zach Shields but not directing it. A Sept. 8, 2028 release date has been set, making it a very Cregger-heavy 2.028 for New Line.
Among “Weapons” fans was Spielberg, who has been quietly working with Cregger for a while. In an interview with film magazine Empire, the filmmaking legend said “Weapons” was so good as a horror movie that it quelled his desire to make a movie in the genre.
“When I see a great horror film like “Weapons,” I don’t have an itch I need to scratch,” he said. “I see “Weapons,” and it doesn’t make me want to make a horror film that’s as scary or scarier than “Weapons.” It satisfies me so completely that it actually arrests my desire to someday make a really, really scary movie.”
“Flood” keeps Cregger in the New Line fold. Beyond “Weapons,” he was a producer on the division’s sci-fi thriller “Companion,” released in early 2025. His next feature, “Resident Evil,” based on the hit video game franchise, is coming from Sony in September and is already building buzz thanks to an intense trailer previewed Monday at CinemaCon.
