TL;DR
- Concept & Writer: Henchman is a DC film script written by Zach Cregger (Barbarian, Weapons) that reimagines a low-level Gotham goon who becomes notorious after inadvertently incapacitating Batman.
- Supporting Roles: The story includes key appearances from Joker and Harley Quinn, with Batman himself serving primarily as a background character.
- Status: As of now, the script hasn’t been officially pitched to DC Studios, but both James Gunn and Peter Safran are aware of its existence.
- Creator’s Enthusiasm: Cregger describes Henchman as his favorite work—something he’d drop everything to make if given the opportunity.
A bold new DC concept is emerging: Henchman, a fresh, gritty take on Gotham City, penned by horror–comedy auteur Zach Cregger. Known for his sharp genre work in Barbarian and Weapons, Cregger has crafted a script focused on one of Gotham’s least powerful players who accidentally becomes central to a city-shaking event.
What’s the Plot?
In Henchman, a mild-mannered figure—Robert Redguard—is thrust into infamy after unintentionally incapacitating Batman in a twist of fate. From there, deep-rooted criminal elements in Gotham’s underbelly shift around him.
He soon finds himself tangled with Gotham’s most infamous villains. Joker and Harley Quinn appear in significant roles, though it’s the reluctant transformation of Robert from an ordinary man to a hardened criminal that drives the story. Batman appears only briefly, lurking more as myth than man.
Is Henchman Going to Be Made?
While no formal development deal has been announced, Cregger’s script has caught the attention of DC Studios leadership—James Gunn and Peter Safran are reportedly aware of the project.
Cregger is enthusiastic: “If I got the call, I would drop everything and go make that movie in a heartbeat. It’s my favorite thing I’ve ever written.”
As a script, Henchman carves out a unique corner in the DC mythos—focusing not on the caped crusader, but the everyman who stumbles into infamy. Cregger’s vision captures both the comedic and tragic elements of moral collapse, set back against the backdrop of Gotham’s madness.
