‘Resident Evil’ Director Zach Cregger Wrote a Unique Batman Movie Concept

Horror filmmakers rarely get the opportunity to helm a franchise as iconic as Batman, and even fewer would envision Gotham City through the lens of someone outside the realm of capes and crime lords. Long before Zach Cregger emerged as a prominent name in the horror genre, he was quietly developing a story that took just such an approach.

Although this project never made it to the big screen, its existence has resurfaced now that Cregger’s reputation in Hollywood has significantly grown since he first penned it. What began as a personal passion project during a challenging time in his career has transformed into one of the more intriguing “what if” narratives in recent memory.

Zach Cregger pitched a horror film set in Gotham City, ComicBook.com reported, revealing that the script focused on a pharmacist caught in the crossfire between the Joker and Batman. Instead of following either iconic character directly, the story explored their conflict from the viewpoint of an ordinary civilian swept up in a much larger conflict.

The screenplay, titled ‘Henchman,’ follows a regular pharmacist who inadvertently becomes involved in the escalating power struggle between Batman and the Joker. Cregger has characterized the protagonist as someone “living on the periphery of all the stories in Gotham that we know of,” highlighting that the film was never intended to retell the familiar hero-versus-villain narrative.

This unique perspective aligns closely with the creative instincts Cregger later became known for. Both ‘Barbarian’ and his more recent horror success have focused on ordinary individuals caught in extraordinary, often terrifying situations, suggesting that ‘Henchman’ was an early blueprint for the filmmaking style that ultimately established him as a standout in horror.

Cregger reportedly wrote the script while filming the TBS series ‘Wrecked’ in Fiji, drafting it at night in his bungalow years before ‘Barbarian’ catapulted him to fame. At that time, he had little creative control over a project tied to such a highly protected intellectual property, a limitation that ultimately nudged him toward crafting original stories instead.

This shift away from existing IP directly influenced the trajectory that led to his breakout success. However, rather than completely abandoning the Batman concept, Cregger has continued to express his affection for it, considering it one of his favorite pieces of writing, even without a clear path toward production.

Cregger has been open about the current status of the project, admitting that the crowded landscape of DC’s cinematic plans makes it challenging to find a place for his particular vision. “I love the script. I still love that script, but that IP, that Gotham City IP is the most coveted thing,” he told ScreenRant, adding that “my movie, I don’t think it really fits into any of that.”

With Matt Reeves continuing to build his own Batman universe and James Gunn leading the newly restructured DC Studios slate, Cregger noted, “there’s just all this stuff. It is a very kind of crowded playing field.” He acknowledged that he hasn’t pitched the idea directly to Gunn or DC leadership, opting instead to let the opportunity find its own timing rather than forcing it, stating, “I have no problem with the state of things with DC,” while also recognizing the obstacles he faces.

Despite the lack of progress, Cregger’s ongoing willingness to discuss ‘Henchman’ publicly indicates that the story still holds creative significance for him. Given how differently he has approached franchise material with ‘Resident Evil,’ it’s clear that finding a peripheral, character-driven angle within an established universe remains an idea he hasn’t abandoned.

Whether ‘Henchman’ ever sees the light of day likely depends less on Cregger’s interest and more on how DC decides to navigate its increasingly intricate slate of Batman and Gotham-related projects moving forward. For now, it stands as one of the more fascinating unproduced scripts resting in a working filmmaker’s drawer.

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