Bill Hader Advised Zach Cregger To Make Alex More Guilty In Weapons

This article contains spoilers for Zach Cregger’s Weapons, now available on VOD.

Weapons director Zach Cregger revealed that Emmy-nominated actor Bill Hader suggested a key change in the horror film. Known for Barbarian, Cregger’s latest project follows the mysterious disappearance of 17 elementary school students. With a stacked ensemble cast including Julia Garner, Josh Brolin, Alden Ehrenreich, and Benedict Wong, Weapons has become the 21st highest-grossing horror movie of all time worldwide.

In Weapons, Alex Lily (Cary Christopher) is the only third-grader who does not disappear, and plays a key 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.

As reported by Games Radar+, Cregger discussed Hader’s key suggestion 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 he received Hader’s notes. Read Cregger’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 This Means For Weapons

Warner Bros. /Courtesy Everett Collection

Hader has built one of the most impressive careers in comedy and drama alike. Rising to fame on Saturday Night Live, Hader went off to star in audience-favorite films like Superbad and his Emmy-winning HBO series, Barry. Hader has won two Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series and three Directors Guild of America Awards.

Hader’s work in Barry is a testament to his experience with 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. Hader’s influence on Weapons highlights how collaborative filmmaking truly is.

With Weapons billed as an unconventional horror film, Hader’s contribution heightened the film’s emotional impact. The collaboration also highlights 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 a success, earning a 94% score on Rotten Tomatoes and making $263 million worldwide. With a Weapons prequel already in the works, meant to center on Aunt Gladys, audiences can expect Cregger to expand on the lore, diving deeper into Gladys’ origins while maintaining the same theme that made Weapons so effective.

Our Take On Weapons And Bill Hader’s Advice

Zach Creggar directing Julia Garner in Weapons. — Zach Creggar directing Julia Garner in Weapons

Hader’s unexpected influence on Weapons shows how valuable collaboration can be in shaping a film’s identity. His background in balancing comedy and tragedy gave Cregger’s story a sharper emotional edge that resonated with audiences, making it stand out in a crowded horror landscape.

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