Jennifer Lawrence Will Star in ‘The Flood,’ a Sci-Fi Thriller Written and Directed by ‘Weapons’ Filmmaker Zach Cregger

Jennifer Lawrence is set to star in “The Flood,” an original sci-fi thriller from Zach Cregger, who wrote and directed the 2025 horror hit “Weapons.” Warner Bros. and New Line have set a theatrical release for August 11, 2028.

Steven Spielberg‘s Amblin is producing, alongside Vertigo’s Roy Lee and Miri Yoon, who worked on “Weapons.” Cregger wrote the screenplay under Amblin’s Netflix deal, but Netflix wouldn’t commit to a substantial theatrical window. After “Weapons” succeeded, New Line took the project out of turnaround for a theatrical release.

Before the 2023 WGA strike, Spielberg gave Cregger about five days to develop an idea they could make together. Cregger and his wife, actress Sara Paxton, watched “Ad Astra”; her fear of being trapped in space led him toward a stranger, scarier premise. Cregger pitched Spielberg, and the project sold two days later.

Cregger says “The Flood” isn’t a horror film, though he’s called it probably his most disturbing film. He’s compared the questions it asks to those in “2001: A Space Odyssey” without suggesting the movies are of equal quality. He chose to direct it rather than the “Weapons” prequel “Gladys”, which he’ll produce.

On casting Lawrence, Cregger said, “Jennifer is one of a kind, and I’m beyond excited to see her in this role.”

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