Weapons director Zach Cregger reveals that an Emmy-nominated actor suggested a key change to the horror film. The Barbarian filmmaker’s latest project follows the mysterious disappearance of 17 elementary school students. With a stacked cast including Julia Garner, Josh Brolin, Alden Ehrenreich, and Benedict Wong, Weapons has become one of the highest-grossing horror movies of all time worldwide.

In Weapons, Alex Lily (Cary Christopher) is the only third-grader from his class who does not disappear, and plays a crucial role in the climax of the film. It’s then revealed that Alex’s Great Aunt Gladys (Amy Madigan), who moved in with the family under the guise of poor health, is a witch draining Alex’s parents’ life force to reinvigorate herself.

After Gladys’ recovery is short-lived, she forces Alex to retrieve personal effects from his 17 classmates. Alex, who is unaware of Gladys’ true intentions, agrees to help since Gladys promised him that if he did, she would leave him and his parents alone.

Recently, Cregger discussed Bill Hader’s important suggestion for Weapons with The Hollywood Reporter. In early versions of the script, Alex played no part in Gladys’ spell against the 17 schoolkids. Instead of stealing the name tags, Alex was meant to receive Valentine’s Day cards from his classmates. That all changed once Cregger received Hader’s notes. Read the director’s comments below:

Bill Hader is a buddy of mine. We would talk about the script, and I think it was his idea. He was like, “You should figure out a way to implicate [Alex] so he feels implicated.”

So it was through a conversation with him that I had the idea of Alex stealing something. And when we were scouting on location, I saw these cubby boxes that were in a real classroom. So I was like, “That would do it.”

What Bill Hader’s Suggestion Means For Weapons

Hader has built an impressive career in comedy and drama alike. Rising to fame on Saturday Night Live, Hader went on to star in audience-favorite films like Superbad and his Emmy-winning HBO series, Barry. He has also won two Emmy Awards and three Directors Guild of America Awards.

Hader’s work in Barry is a testament to his experience exploring psychologically complex and flawed characters. Bringing this perspective to Weapons not only strengthened the project but also demonstrated how horror is increasingly blending with character-driven drama. Additionally, Hader’s influence on Weapons highlights the collaborative filmmaking process.

Weapons is billed as an unconventional horror film, and Hader’s contribution heightened its emotional impact, and emphasizes how modern horror has become a playground for innovation. Filmmakers like Cregger are seeking input from storytellers across genres, and the results speak for themselves.

The film was obviously a success, earning a 94% score on Rotten Tomatoes and grossing $263 million worldwide. With a Weapons prequel already in the works, centering on Aunt Gladys, audiences can expect Cregger to expand the lore, diving into Gladys’ origins while maintaining the same themes that made Weapons so effective.

Our Take On Bill Hader’s Advice For Weapons

Hader’s unexpected influence on Weapons shows how valuable collaboration can be in shaping a film’s idenтιтy, in this case, because how children are threatened and trapped in bad situations are core themes of the story. Hader’s background in balancing comedy and tragedy gave Cregger’s story a sharper emotional edge that made it stand out in a crowded horror landscape.

Looking ahead, the prequel focusing on Aunt Gladys is the perfect way to keep the momentum going and fans engaged. If Cregger manages to bring forward the same mix of horror and human complexity as Weapons, he could be building a defining franchise entry in modern horror.