Weapons Trailer Drops: Why Studios Fought Over This $38M Horror Script
Hollywood has no shortage of expensive blockbusters, but rarely does a script alone spark the kind of chaos that Weapons did back in 2023. Now, the much-anticipated trailer for the horror-thriller is finally out, giving audiences a first look at the mystery that drove studios into a bidding frenzy — and allegedly left Jordan Peele fuming.
The $38 Million Bidding War That Shook Hollywood
Directed by Barbarian filmmaker Zach Cregger, Weapons is a chilling, original horror tale centered on a small-town nightmare. Set in the fictional town of Maybrook, the film begins with the sudden and unexplained disappearance of 17 children — all vanishing at the exact same time, on an ordinary Wednesday morning. Julia Garner stars as a schoolteacher who becomes entangled in the investigation as the community descends into fear and paranoia.
The trailer, which dropped earlier this week, has already stirred excitement online. Fans have praised its restraint — offering just enough to intrigue, but not spoil. One viewer commented, “Now that’s how you make a trailer — just enough mystery, just enough dread.” Another added, “You had me at ‘director of Barbarian.’ This is gonna be insane.”
But what’s perhaps even more intriguing than the plot is the real-life drama behind Weapons — a bidding war so intense it caused fallout between major Hollywood players.
Back in January 2023, Cregger’s script for Weapons became the subject of a heated bidding war between major Hollywood studios. New Line ultimately secured the rights with an eye-popping $38 million deal — a figure that includes $5 million for Cregger to direct, and another $10 million for scripting and producing. The rest, reportedly, went into backend deals and development incentives.
Jordan Peele, the Oscar-winning director behind Get Out and Nope, had shown serious interest in producing the project under his Universal banner. But when New Line outbid Universal by a significant margin, Peele lost the deal — and, according to a Deadline report, the fallout was so intense that Peele parted ways with his longtime managers, Joel Zadak and Peter Principato. Coincidentally, Principato also happens to represent Cregger.
The incident turned Weapons into a legend long before a single frame was shot — not because of big stars or IP backing, but because of the faith in one writer-director’s terrifying vision.
Alongside Garner, the film also stars Josh Brolin, Austin Abrams, Benedict Wong, and Amy Madigan. With a mix of psychological horror and small-town dread, the film promises to tap into the same unsettling vibe that made Barbarian a surprise hit.
Weapons – Release Date
As the trailer continues to make waves, one question remains: will the final film live up to the price tag and the intense buzz that came with it? If the early reactions are anything to go by, Cregger might just deliver another genre-defining hit.