EXCLUSIVE: Weapons star Benedict Wong calls Zach Cregger’s horror script ‘Relentless and Thrilling’; says, “His storytelling keeps you off balance”

By Ryan Lobo -

July 30, 2025 - 4:00 PM IST

In Weapons, the upcoming psychological horror from writer-director Zach Cregger (Barbarian), Benedict Wong trades sorcery for suspense. As Marcus, the principled head of Maybrook Elementary, Wong portrays a man trapped in the emotional aftermath of a terrifying mystery — the sudden disappearance of children under his care. With loyalty torn between his colleague Justine Gandy and his responsibility to the wider community, Marcus finds himself navigating moral grey zones and escalating dread.

EXCLUSIVE: Weapons star Benedict Wong calls Zach Cregger’s horror script ‘Relentless and Thrilling’; says, “His storytelling keeps you off balance”

But for Wong, stepping into this world was more than just another role. It was a challenge — and an unexpected rediscovery of horror itself. “What I’ve discovered about Zach’s storytelling is that it’s relentless—you’re never quite sure where he’s going to take you next,” Wong says. “One twist leads straight into another, like turning a corner only to find another corner waiting.”

It was this unpredictability that first drew him to the screenplay. “When Weapons came across my desk, I immediately thought, ‘This is a gauntlet being thrown down.’ And I had to pick it up.”

Wong, best known for his commanding presence in genre films like Doctor Strange, reveals a surprising truth: he had long sworn off horror. But working on Weapons has changed that. “What I’ve found since diving into horror is that it’s actually a lot of fun—because at its core, it’s all smoke and mirrors and ketchup! It’s illusion, tension, and surprise—and that’s what makes it so thrilling.”

Much of that thrill, he says, comes from the man at the helm. As writer, director, and producer, Zach Cregger is no stranger to pulling strings and building suspense — a talent audiences discovered firsthand in the sleeper hit Barbarian. With Weapons, Wong believes Cregger is once again crafting something unique. “There’s a great work ethic on set and that’s such a credit to Zach and the energy that he brings. He’s strong in his vision and we’re all willing components to that.”

The production, shot in the humid heat of Atlanta, pushed cast and crew alike. But the bond they forged on set was, according to Wong, rare and deeply rewarding. “We had an incredible ensemble of actors and such a hardworking crew grafting in the unforgiving heat. At the beginning of a production, you just don’t know how these things are going to go. But with Zach and this group, it felt like the makings of something special.”

It’s Cregger’s complete creative control — from script to screen — that Wong particularly admires. “To see someone who writes and directs care so deeply about his script and his vision… His timing and use of suspense. He’s firm, but fair, and fosters a good vibe on the set. I just want to be in another film with him.”

With Weapons, Wong not only returns to horror — a genre he once avoided — but does so with enthusiasm and newfound respect. If Weapons is a gauntlet, Benedict Wong has clearly risen to the challenge.

Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Benedict Wong breaks silence on Weapons, his first horror role since Hellraiser; reveals, “I stopped watching horror after Hellraiser, but this one was different”