Zach Cregger, the creative mind behind the psychological horror success Barbarian and his latest thriller Weapons, has crafted a DC screenplay, with fresh intelligence emerging about this mysterious project.
Previous speculation positioned Cregger's undisclosed DC venture around Joker and Harley Quinn. However, according to The Hollywood Reporter's Heat Vision newsletter, the film actually explores Gotham City's overlooked criminal underworld.
The project bears the title Henchmen and reportedly chronicles a bottom-tier criminal operative in Gotham who, through an extraordinary "stroke of fortune," successfully neutralizes Batman. This unforeseen triumph rapidly establishes him as a formidable presence within the city's criminal hierarchy.
While Batman, Joker, and Harley Quinn may make "limited appearances," the narrative core focuses on the anonymous criminal who unexpectedly ascends to prominence. This concept presents compelling storytelling potential with its fresh perspective on familiar territory.
Significant obstacles exist before Henchmen could advance into production. James Gunn and Peter Safran have yet to establish casting for Batman, Joker, or Harley Quinn within their DCU framework. Additionally, THR indicates Gunn and Safran may exercise "caution" regarding Batman-related content while Matt Reeves continues developing his separate The Batman universe.
Cregger confirmed the screenplay's existence during a recent THR discussion while emphasizing it's not his immediate focus.
"I have Resident Evil scheduled, followed immediately by an original sci-fi project," stated Zach Cregger. "Then I have another completed screenplay I want to pursue afterward. It actually occurs within the DC Universe, but it's completely original and definitely not a superhero film."
Before approaching Henchmen, Cregger will direct his Resident Evil adaptation, then his original science fiction work. Only following those commitments might the DC crime narrative receive consideration, though given the story's innovative angle, enthusiasts of dark Gotham narratives should monitor this development closely.
The project's unique perspective—examining Gotham's criminal ecosystem from a ground-level viewpoint—could provide refreshing contrast to traditional superhero storytelling while maintaining the atmospheric tension Cregger demonstrated in his horror work.