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Zach Cregger’s much-anticipated horror-thriller Weapons is gearing up for its theatrical release, but the project originally looked quite different. The director recently revealed that Pedro Pascal was his first choice for the lead role, but scheduling conflicts forced the actor to step aside, opening the door for Josh Brolin to take over.
The film centers on a chilling mystery: one night, every child in a small community suddenly disappears, throwing the parents into chaos and panic as they scramble to uncover what happened. With its unsettling premise and Cregger’s reputation for fresh horror storytelling, Weapons has already generated strong buzz.
Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, the filmmaker explained how the Hollywood strikes complicated his original casting lineup. “I had a whole different cast for this movie. And then we had the strike, and then Pedro Pascal’s schedule threw us into turmoil. I had to recast the entire movie,” he shared.
Cregger added that the domino effect of delays made the process even harder: “The strikes delayed us, and then when you delay, people’s schedules get conflicts, and then you’re back at square one. I bear no ill will towards anybody. We just kept getting delayed and delayed. It’s like a domino effect. So I had to start over again.”
While Pascal’s exit was a disappointment, the director emphasized that Josh Brolin stepping into the role gave the film a renewed energy. Had Pascal stayed attached, Weapons would have been his fourth project of the year, following his packed schedule with The Last of Us and other commitments.
Weapons is slated to hit theaters on August 8, promising a tense, atmospheric ride that horror fans won’t want to miss.