‘Weapons’ had to be entirely recast after Pedro Pascal dropped out, director claims
Weapons director Zach Cregger has revealed that he had to recast the entire movie after strike delays and Pedro Pascal‘s schedule wreaked havoc on the project.
Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Cregger revealed that the initial line-up for the horror offering is now unrecognisable. He shared, “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,” Cregger said.
Weapons explores the story of seventeen children who simultaneously stir in the night and run off towards an unknown target. Their parents and broader community must try to uncover what is at the heart of this terrifying mystery.
The director, known for his works Barbarian and Companion, expressed understanding of the scheduling difficulty. He said, “This is what happens, right? The strikes delayed us, and then when you delay, people’s schedules, get conflicts, and then you’re back at square one.”
Though Pascal’s schedule caused the hubbub, Creggers insisted he harbours no hard feelings over the added stress. He said, “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.”
Consequently, Josh Brolin of The Goonies and No Country for Old Men took over Pascal’s role. He was set to play one of the fathers of a missing child.
A single recognisable face was in the initial lineup and remains in the final product: Austin Abrams, known for his work on Euphoria and Wolfs. He stars in the film as a townsman named James who is addicted to drugs. In the new interview, Cregger expressed his appreciation for their prolonged collaboration: “He hung tough with me. That’s my dude right there.”
The release is predicted to become a new horror classic, following the extreme interest shown in the screenplay. Netflix, TriStar Pictures, Universal Pictures, and New Line Cinema all engaged in a bidding war, and within 24 hours, the project had sold to New Line for $38m, with Cregger reportedly sealing a $10m salary and final cut.
Weapons will open in theatres on August 8th via New Line and Warner Bros. Watch the official trailer below.
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