Zach Cregger's 'Batman-Adjacent' Script May Have Been…

Summary

Zach Cregger has been impressing horror audiences and rebooting the Resident Evil films.
Cregger has teased a "Batman-adjacent" screenplay that he wrote and hopes to see get made.
A new rumor suggests that Cregger's Batman-related script is about the Joker and Harley Quinn, which could be good for the DCU.

The director of the upcoming Resident Evil reboot has a "Batman-adjacent" script he hopes to produce next, and the focus of his story may have been revealed. Numerous Batman projects are already in development, with the DCU's Brave and the Bold, The Batman Part II, and even a film centering on Clayface. Still, with plans for further characters and stories, many of which include characters from Batman comics, there is always room for more in James Gunn's bold new DCU.

Weapons director Zach Cregger is currently working hard on a reboot of the Resident Evil film franchise, having teased details about his plans for the horror game adaptation. However, the director also has his eyes set on a unique project involving a Batman-related script he wrote, which Cregger teased in the past, with hopes it could be his next movie after Resident Evil.

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By Cameron Swan

Zach Cregger Is Redefining Horror And Rebooting The Resident Evil Films

Aren't You Hyped Up For Weapons?

Cregger got his start in comedy as part of The Whitest Kids U'Know sketch series, which often pushed the envelope with divisive humor. He also co-wrote and co-directed the comedy Miss March with fellow Whitest Kids U'Know collaborator Trevor Moore. However, Cregger gained further notoriety in 2022, writing and directing the breakout horror hit Barbarian. Critics were impressed by Barbarian's ever-changing point of view and unique narrative, which also saw audiences show up to see the modestly budgeted horror film land impressive returns at the box office.

Cregger has written and directed his Barbarian follow-up with his next film, Weapons, which is currently earning impressive early word of mouth, praising it as an ambitious horror outing. However, he is also hard at work on writing a reboot of the Resident Evil franchise, which he will also direct. While Resident Evil movies have had a spotty track record, Cregger is a fan of the games, and his current resume in the genre should put most fans at ease. Still, with all his success, Cregger has his eyes set on another big franchise project, with a script he penned for a story related to characters in the Batman universe.

Cregger Is 'Dying To Make' A 'Batman-Adjacent' Script, Which A New Rumor May Have Identified

More Batman Is Generally Always A Good Thing

Cregger revealed back in 2022 that he had completed a screenplay for a movie that he described as "Batman-adjacent." While speaking with Bloody Disgusting's Boo Crew Podcast while Barbarian was still in theaters, the writer and director discussed the early stages of what is now Weapons, and let fans in on the fact that he had "written a movie that takes place in the DC Universe." According to Cregger:

The thing I'd love to do next... I've actually written a movie that takes place in the DC Universe. Which is so not normally my thing; I'm not a superhero guy - I just couldn't stop thinking about this one story that kind of takes place in a Batman-adjacent thing. And so I wrote it, and I'm utterly obsessed with it.

Cregger has shared his excitement about the script elsewhere, further delving into his "Batman-adjacent" idea with Discussing Film, stating, "I would drop everything and go make that movie in a heartbeat." While he didn't delve into what his story was about, or who it focused on, Cregger did mention how he feels about the project when compared to his other works, stating:

It’s my favorite thing I’ve ever written. I love it, and I’m dying to make it. I have not talked to James Gunn in my whole life. I don’t know him, but I would certainly love to meet him and have the conversation. Who knows, man?

According to insider Daniel Richtman (via ComicBookMovie), Cregger's "Batman-adjacent" screenplay is a movie about the Joker and Harley Quinn. Richtman is also positive that Cregger intends to pitch the script to the heads of DC Studios, James Gunn and Peter Safran, if he hasn't already. While no plans involving the characters have officially been announced for the DCU, Cregger may be the man for the job.

Cregger Is Perfect For A Joker And Harley Quinn Movie, And So Is The DCU

It Can't Be Worse Than 2016's Suicide Squad

The Joker and Harley Quinn are undoubtedly two of the most popular characters from Batman's canon. They have led projects in comics, film, and TV. The animated Harley Quinn series currently has five seasons to its name, continuing to impress fans and critics. The character also leads Gunn's The Suicide Squad movie, where Margot Robbie portrays Harley Quinn. Robbie even produced and starred in a Birds of Prey movie featuring the character, which didn't see a stellar box office but earned great reviews.

For years, the Joker has been Batman's greatest foe, with standout performances from Mark Hamill in Batman: The Animated Series, Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight, and Joaquin Phoenix in Joker. Ledger and Phoenix both won Oscars for their portrayals, proving the character's continued complexity. While Joker: Folie à Deux featured both characters, it severely missed the mark, giving audiences one of the worst live-action iterations outside of Jared Leto's maligned performance. Still, that makes the characters primed for redemption, which Cregger and the DCU could do.

Gunn has already proven that the DCU is willing to take bold swings by greenlighting the Clayface movie. The movie will not only focus on a difficult villain to potentially pull off in live-action, but also delves into the horror genre, leaving the franchise open to any great ideas. A Joker and Harley Quinn movie could be another perfect way to bring a unique spirit to the franchise, playing like a Bonnie and Clyde-style story or a complex story about love and toxicity. Following Joker: Folie à Deux, the characters are also due for a proper screen outing together, which could prove profitable for the studio and exciting for fans. While Cregger's script is still tightly under wraps, the current state of the DCU and the director's success in recent years could lead to another distinct choice for the fledgling interconnected superhero franchise, and potentially even Batman.