Zach Cregger wants Batman story Henchman is fascinated
The Pharmacist on the Periphery: Zach Cregger’s Quirky Take on Gotham
When director Zach Cregger talks about his next big cinematic venture, the conversation quickly moves beyond the familiar streets of Gotham. While the dream might involve a Batman film, Cregger is steering clear of the sprawling epic, opting instead for a deeply intimate and wonderfully weird story that plays with the shadows of the DC universe.
This isn’t just any Batman concept. Cregger’s vision centers on a character who exists on the very edge of the action—a bystander who finds himself accidentally swept into the high-stakes power play between Batman and the Joker. The script, tentatively titled Henchman, focuses on a seemingly ordinary pharmacist who gets accidentally sucked into the bizarre, chaotic narrative of Gotham, becoming an integral, if accidental, part of the chaos.
What makes this concept so compelling, Cregger explains, is its focus on the individual experience rather than the massive political and lore battles that often dominate superhero films. He advocates for small, manageable stories where the audience can truly grasp the character’s predicament. As he put it, he prefers a narrative that feels like an ant pushing a grain of sand, allowing the viewer to focus on one person’s struggle rather than the world’s tectonic plates of politics and lore.
Cregger suggests that by looking at Gotham from the periphery, the narrative gains a unique, intimidating quality. He finds fascination in exploring the character’s personal journey rather than attempting to map out the entirety of the superhero mythos. This approach echoes the sensibility found in his previous work, such as the world of Resident Evil, where the focus is often on intense, contained environments and personal horror.
It is a cinematic choice that prioritizes mood and character over sheer scale. By making the protagonist a random figure caught in the crossfire, Cregger can deliver a narrative that is both deeply personal and surprisingly thrilling. This shift from grand spectacle to intimate psychology is exactly the kind of subtle storytelling that allows a character to feel truly alive.
Despite the intriguing nature of the concept, the buzz around Cregger’s potential DC projects is growing rapidly. While the idea of a character navigating the fringes of Gotham is captivating, Cregger has also cautioned that the concept is getting blown out of proportion online. He remains focused on developing the core narrative and has not yet engaged in detailed discussions with James Gunn about the potential script.
Meanwhile, the DC landscape is buzzing with other upcoming projects. Fans can look forward to films like Clayface, which is set to hit theaters in October, adding another layer of creativity to the ongoing cinematic evolution of the world’s most iconic comic characters.
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