HENCHMEN: Zach Cregger's DC Script Confirmed To Feature Joker, Harley Quinn - And Possibly Batman

HENCHMEN: Zach Cregger's DC Script Confirmed To Feature Joker, Harley Quinn - And Possibly Batman

We have some new details on Weapons director Zach Cregger's DC-based script, which does indeed feature Joker, Harley Quinn, and possibly Batman...

By MarkCassidy - Aug 08, 2025 11:08 PM EST
Filed Under: DC Studios

Weapons director Zach Cregger has confirmed that he has a finished script for a DC-based project ready to go, but he hasn't actually pitched it to DC Studios yet.

While appearing on Bloody Disgusting's podcast back in 2022, Cregger spoke about his "Batman- adjacent" script for the first time, revealing that he would love the opportunity to bring it to the screen.

"The thing I'd love to do next... I've actually written a movie that takes place in the DC Universe. Which is so not normally my thing; I'm not a superhero guy - I just couldn't stop thinking about this one story that kind of takes place in a Batman-adjacent thing. And so I wrote it, and I'm utterly obsessed with it."

Cregger didn't share any specifics on his story at the time, but during a more recent interview with Discussing Film, he described the script as the "best thing I've ever written," and addressed the likelihood of it being brought to the attention of DC Studios now that James Gunn and Peter Safran are in charge.

"If I got the call, I would drop everything and go make that movie in a heartbeat," he said. "It’s my favorite thing I’ve ever written. I love it, and I’m dying to make it. I have not talked to James Gunn in my whole life. I don’t know him but I would certainly love to meet him and have the conversation. Who knows man?"

Daniel Richtman recently reported that the script is actually a Joker and Harley Quinn movie, and we now have some more details to go on.

According to THR, the project is titled Henchmen, and focuses on "a low-level henchman in the Gotham crime world who gains notoriety after managing to incapacitate Batman through a stroke of luck." The trade adds that "The Dark Knight could appear briefly in the movie, while Harley Quinn and Joker are in the project as well.

Cregger has not yet pitched it to DC Studios, though the company is said to be aware of his interest."

If Gunn and Safran are aware of Cregger's interest in getting the movie into production, there's a chance we will get to see Henchmen someday, but it sounds like the filmmaker is going to be busy for the next couple of years.

"I have Resident Evil, and then I have a sci-fi movie right after that that’s original. And then I have another finished script that I want to do after that. It actually takes place in the DC Universe, but it’s a totally original and it’s not a superhero movie. I wrote that before I wrote Barbarian."

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Huskers
Huskers - 8/8/2025, 11:49 PM
Ugh, I’ve seen enough of these 2 characters for a while! Read the room Pal!
noname
noname - 8/9/2025, 12:04 AM
@Huskers - didnt you just hear him say he wrote the film before he even wrote Barbarian? We're talking pre-2020 since that film came out in 2022. This was probably around the time the first Joker movie went into production (2018).
bobevanz
bobevanz - 8/8/2025, 11:53 PM
I'm seeing Weapons tomorrow. Apparently it's bat shit crazy, Cinemascore and reviews are great, WB keeps winning lol woo hoo! Everyone has a great year! By 2027 you'll see pre pandemic levels of success, it took a long time to weather the "streaming" storm after covid. We're so [frick]ing back
Shivermetimbers
Shivermetimbers - 8/9/2025, 12:08 AM
@bobevanz - hope you like it but I thought it was crap.
Sinner
Sinner - 8/9/2025, 1:47 AM
@bobevanz - Weapons is incredible, like it was sooooooo goood
Fares
Fares - 8/8/2025, 11:54 PM
I hope to hear James Gunn address it sooner or later, and if it gets done, I suppose it will be an Elseworlds story. Gunn said they have higher quality control for those, so who knows if it's good enough.

It does though sound similar to that one episode from the animated series, I'm not sure if Cregger is intentionally taking inspiration from it or if he's even aware of it.
noname
noname - 8/9/2025, 12:10 AM
@Fares - I wouldn't mind a Rashomon-esque series of live action shorts teasing the Batman from various criminals perspectives. Like the opening story in Batman: Gotham Knight with those kids. That way, before the official Batman is cast, you build him up as this mythic figure...primarily because we've seen Batman SOOOOOOOOOOO many times. This would be a cool way for the new DCU to reboot him without officially casting him yet.
noname
noname - 8/9/2025, 12:21 AM
@Fares - And I think this new Batman should have white eyes. Not only would that distinguish him from literally every live action incarnation, it would also make him like a ghost or some sort of demon to criminals. Imagine a shadow figure with white eyes walking towards you in a dark alley. This Batman should be absolutely terrifying. The closest was Affleck in BVS
Luigi
Luigi - 8/9/2025, 12:09 AM
Sounds good, why not?
TheJok3r
TheJok3r - 8/9/2025, 12:24 AM
It seems to be based off of the Animated Series episode "The Man Who Killed Batman".
TheHummus
TheHummus - 8/9/2025, 1:20 AM
@TheJok3r - thought the exact same thing. Very underrated episode. Loved seeing how pissed Joker got when a lowly henchman “killed” Batman.
vectorsigma
vectorsigma - 8/9/2025, 1:15 AM
Sounds like something Gunn will sign off in a heartbeat.
HulkisHoly
HulkisHoly - 8/9/2025, 1:17 AM
As much as I hate creggers style - comedy disguised as horror - he probably would be the right guy to write. Joker/ henchmen story in the DCU
Sinner
Sinner - 8/9/2025, 1:46 AM
Whatever this guy is cooking, let him. Weapons was excellent and is the second best movie of the year behind only Sinners
asherman93
asherman93 - 8/9/2025, 1:53 AM
...wasn't there an episode of BTAS that was just like this?
TheJok3r
TheJok3r - 8/9/2025, 2:41 AM
@asherman93 - Yep; The Man Who Killed Batman.
MisterBones
MisterBones - 8/9/2025, 2:38 AM
So basically the BTAS episode…
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