Zach Cregger, the filmmaker behind the horror hit Weapons, has parted ways with his longtime manager Peter Principato of Artists First, according to multiple sources. The split comes after roughly 15 years of working together, dating back to Cregger’s earlier career in comedy as a founding member of the troupe The Whitest Kids U’ Know. Sources described the separation as amicable and said it reflects Cregger’s rise into one of the most in-demand directors in contemporary horror.
Cregger’s career trajectory changed sharply after his breakout with Barbarian, the 2022 horror film that earned strong reviews and grossed more than $46 million worldwide. That success helped establish him as a filmmaker with major studio appeal and set up the strong interest that followed his later projects. He is now represented by CAA and Jackoway Austen Tyerman for dealmaking and is concentrating on directing original material.
At present, Cregger has a busy slate. He is preparing Sony’s Resident Evil, which is scheduled for release on September 18 and is based on Capcom’s video game franchise. He also has two additional projects set up at New Line: the sci-fi thriller The Flood and Gladys, a prequel to Weapons. Those films are slated for release on August 11, 2028, and September 8, 2028, respectively. Although he is no longer represented by Artists First, Principato is expected to remain involved in all three titles through commissions and participation, according to sources.
Weapons became one of the most talked-about films of last year and was driven by major audience interest after Barbarian’s success. The film centers on the mysterious overnight disappearance of a class of Pennsylvania third graders, a premise that generated intense discussion and strong commercial performance. It opened to about $70 million globally and went on to earn around $270 million worldwide. The cast includes Josh Brolin, Julia Garner, Alden Ehrenreich, Austin Abrams, and Amy Madigan, whose performance as the villain Aunt Gladys was widely noted.
Cregger next moved into Resident Evil, which reteams him with Austin Abrams and follows a medical courier who becomes caught in a deadly struggle against mutated creatures. The cast also includes Zach Cherry, Kali Reis, Paul Walter Hauser, and Johnno Wilson.
The management change does not appear to affect Cregger’s momentum. Instead, it underscores his position as a filmmaker whose original concepts and genre-driven projects continue to attract major studios, large audiences, and significant industry attention.
