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Barbarian writer/director Zach Cregger's next horror movie is being described as a multistory epic similar to Paul Thomas Anderson's Magnolia.
Following a fierce bidding war, Barbarian director Zach Cregger's next horror movie, Weapons, is revealed, and it sounds very different but intriguing. This past September, the rookie filmmaker burst onto the scene with Barbarian, a surprise hit at the box office. The horror film, which was lauded by critics for its originality, genuine scariness, and strong performances, follows a woman (played by Black Mirror's Georgina Campbell) whose Airbnb is double-booked with a stranger (played by It's Bill Skarsgård). Soon, they quickly discover the real danger is lurking beneath the home's basement, owned by a disgraced actor played by Jeepers Creepers star Justin Long.
Since Barbarian was a critical and commercial hit, studios have been falling over themselves to work with Cregger on his next project. Now, following a fierce bidding war that saw New Line emerge as the winner, the Barbarian breakout's next horror movie has been revealed. It is titled Weapons and sounds very different from his first film. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Weapons is an "interrelated, multistory horror epic that tonally is in the vein of Magnolia."
Everything We Know About Weapons
Soon after its release, Barbarian writer/director Zach Cregger revealed he was already working on his next horror movie. After an intense auction that saw several studios involved, the first details about the project have surfaced. After Barbarian was distributed by 20th Century Studios and grossed $45 million at the box office on a $4 million budget, Weapons will be made with New Line and carry a reported eight-figure budget, more than double the budget of Cregger's first film. The filmmaker will also receive the final cut on Weapons, which is guaranteed a theatrical release.
Perhaps the most intriguing reveal about Weapons is its comparison to Magnolia. Paul Thomas Anderson's 1999 mosaic-like movie weaves together the stories of various interconnected characters before inexplicably raining frogs at the end of its three-hour runtime. While Barbarian featured a rather simple premise that was executed well and expanded on throughout its one-hour and 42-minute runtime, Cregger's next film sounds like a much more ambitious and lengthy horror project. Comparing Weapons to Magnolia conjures up a very clear image of the upcoming horror film's tone, scope, and scale.
With a background in comedy, Cregger seemingly came out of nowhere with the horror hit Barbarian and, after just one film, has arguably become one of the leading horror auteurs. His collaboration with New Line, the Warner Bros. label famous for producing the Nightmare on Elm Street film series, should only continue increasing Cregger's profile. The fact that his next project is already drawing comparisons to a highly-respected film like Magnolia should also continue increasing anticipation for the multistory horror epic. Weapons will be a project to watch.
