Zach Cregger is once again making headlines before he's even started shooting his next film. The director of Barbarian and Weapons, who is also at the helm of the cinematic return of Resident Evil, has revealed new details about The Flood, his science fiction project produced alongside Amblin Pictures. The surprise comes from the reference he chose to describe it: 2001: A Space Odyssey, Stanley Kubrick's 1968 classic.
The comment carries weight now that Cregger has become one of the most influential voices in horror and science fiction today, and any hint about The Flood fuels anticipation while the industry awaits confirmation of further plot details ahead of its release.
A Comparison With Caveats
In an interview with Men's Health, Cregger was quick to clarify that he doesn't intend to place The Flood on the same artistic level as Kubrick's work. What he wants to capture is that sense of strangeness that runs through 2001, a film that, in his reading, can also be understood as a horror story about human nature and artificial intelligence.
The director explained that The Flood shares an unconventional narrative structure with Barbarian and Weapons, though it doesn't work through shifting perspectives the way those two films do. In his own words, the film unfolds in a very particular way that he feels especially proud of, and he describes it as disturbing without being, strictly speaking, a horror film.
Cregger even admitted that he still isn't entirely sure how he'll approach the shoot, something he sees as a positive sign. He said he feels intimidated by the material and, at the same time, deeply in love with the story he's written.
The Origin of the Project: The Spielberg Connection
The Flood came about unexpectedly, tied to the possibility of working with Steven Spielberg through Amblin Pictures. Cregger has said that, during the promotion of Resident Evil, he already explained that he had just five days to come up with an idea that would let him collaborate with the director of Jaws, E.T. and Jurassic Park.
That period of pressure, which Cregger himself described as a frenzy unlike anything he'd experienced before, ended up leading to the central idea of the film. The spark came while watching a movie with his wife: a scene showed a character entering an abandoned spaceship, and she remarked that few things are as terrifying as being trapped in space.
That comment sparked the director's imagination, and he said he suddenly visualized the film's entire structure after asking himself what could be even stranger and more disturbing than being trapped in an abandoned ship.
Horror, Science Fiction, or Something Else?
Despite how unsettling everything Cregger has revealed sounds, the director himself insists that The Flood shouldn't be understood as a conventional horror film. During a Reddit Q&A session, he explained that while it contains moments and elements of the genre, horror isn't its dominant focus, even if it ends up being his most disturbing work to date.
Cregger detailed that Barbarian, Weapons, Resident Evil and The Flood all emerged during a period of intense creative activity, to the point that The Flood could have been the first to go into production if the circumstances had been different.
What We Know (and Don’t Yet Know) About the Story
The official plot of The Flood remains shrouded in secrecy. The clues Cregger has offered point strongly toward space, possibly a ship or a space station, but it's worth distinguishing those statements from the unconfirmed rumors circulating online.
Some unconfirmed reports suggest the plot could involve an alien artifact of mysterious origin and a setting that ends up completely flooded, in line with the film's title. Until Warner Bros., New Line Cinema or Cregger himself release an official synopsis, these details should be treated with caution.
What has been confirmed is that the project was initially headed to Netflix, but Cregger insisted on securing a traditional theatrical release. In the end, The Flood found its home at Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema, with a release date set for August 11, 2028.
No official cast has been announced at this time, so any names linked to the project should be considered speculation until confirmed by the studios involved.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Flood, Zach Cregger’s new film?
It's a science fiction film directed by Zach Cregger, produced alongside Amblin Pictures, which the director compares in spirit to 2001: A Space Odyssey for its unsettling tone and big questions.
Is The Flood a horror film?
According to Cregger himself, it's not a conventional horror film, though it includes genre elements and scenes and could end up being, in his words, his most disturbing work to date.
When does The Flood come out?
It's set to release on August 11, 2028, after moving from an initial deal with Netflix to a theatrical release through Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema.
Is Steven Spielberg involved in The Flood?
The project arose from Zach Cregger's desire to work with Steven Spielberg and is being developed in collaboration with Amblin Pictures, though the available material doesn't detail Spielberg's specific role in the production.
Is there a confirmed cast for The Flood?
No. At this time there is no official cast announced for the film, so any names circulating should be taken as speculation.
What is the story of The Flood about?
The official plot hasn't been revealed. Cregger's clues point toward space, possibly a ship or a space station, and some unconfirmed rumors mention an alien artifact and a flooded setting.
