Filmmaker Zach Cregger, who gained recognition with his 2022 debut Barbarian, may be developing a shared horror universe with his upcoming film Weapons. The suggestion arises from a new viral marketing campaign launched by Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema.
The campaign introduces Weapons through a fictional news site, MaybrookMissing.com, which presents a mystery involving 17 missing children from the fictional town of Maybrook. According to a featured article, the children left their homes voluntarily in the early hours, baffling authorities and sparking widespread concern.
The site subtly connects Weapons to Barbarian through another article referencing the infamous rental property in Detroit’s Brightmoor neighbourhood, the central setting of Barbarian. The article identifies the escape of Tess Marshall and the discovery of underground tunnels, directly tying the films together within a shared narrative world.
Although neither film serves as a direct sequel to the other, the implication of a connected universe is further reinforced by both stories taking place in Michigan.
Cregger, who is also involved in the upcoming Resident Evil film reboot, has not publicly confirmed the universe theory.
Weapons stars Pedro Pascal, Josh Brolin, Julia Garner, Alden Ehrenreich, Benedict Wong, Austin Abrams, Amy Madigan, June Diane Raphael, and Luke Speakman. It is scheduled to release in cinemas on August 8, 2025.
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