Lawrence joins New Line sci-fi thriller

Jennifer Lawrence has signed on to star in The Flood, an original science fiction thriller written and directed by Zach Cregger. Warner Bros. division New Line Cinema is backing the production after acquiring the project out of turnaround from Netflix earlier in 2026. Cregger is producing the film alongside Roy Lee and Miri Yoon of Vertigo Entertainment, with Steven Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment also on board as a producer. The studio has scheduled the theatrical release for 11 August 2028, and principal photography will take place in Europe starting in the first months of 2027.

Cregger's concept and studio reunion

Specific plot details for The Flood remain undisclosed, but Cregger revealed that the story originated while watching a movie featuring an abandoned spaceship. A discussion with his wife regarding the fear of being trapped in deep space triggered the narrative premise. Cregger developed the idea while seeking a creative collaboration with Amblin Entertainment. The filmmaker described his enthusiasm for the project and his partnership with the studio leadership.

“Mike, Pam and the whole Warner Bros./New Line team were an absolute dream to collaborate with on Weapons, and I couldn't be happier to dive in with them again. Jennifer is one of a kind, and I'm beyond excited to see her in this role.”

Commercial track record and studio leadership

Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group chairs and chief executive officers Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy confirmed the casting and praised Lawrence's addition to the production. The agreement reunites Cregger with the New Line team following their collaboration on Weapons, which spent four consecutive weeks atop the domestic box office and grossed $270 million worldwide in 2025. Weapons earned Amy Madigan an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for playing Aunt Gladys, leading to an upcoming continuation film titled Gladys. Cregger also directed the Sony and Constantin Film release Resident Evil, which crossed $200 million at the global box office.

“Jennifer Lawrence is one of the most gifted and compelling actors working today, and we are thrilled to have her at the center of Zach's bold and wholly original vision for The Flood. Following our extraordinary experience together on Weapons, we could not be more excited to reunite with Zach and the team at Vertigo, as well as Amblin to bring this ambitious film to audiences around the world.”

Production timeline and Lawrence's slate

The Flood adds to an active filming calendar for Lawrence, who is represented by LBI Entertainment and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller, Hoberman, Newman, Warren, Richman, Rush, Kaller & Gellman. The actress won the 2013 Academy Award for Best Actress for Silver Linings Playbook and has starred in American Hustle, Joy, and Don't Look Up. Through her production company, Excellent Cadaver, Lawrence produced Causeway, No Hard Feelings, the post-partum drama Die, My Love (which earned her a Golden Globe nomination), and the Peabody Award-winning documentary Bread and Roses as well as Zurawski v Texas. Excellent Cadaver is also producing the upcoming Martin Scorsese drama What Happens at Night, in which Lawrence stars alongside Leonardo DiCaprio. Lawrence will also reprise her role as Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping.