Jennifer Lawrence’s next sci-fi thriller has a 2028 date—but its story is still under wraps

A release date before a synopsis

Lawrence is set to star in The Flood, a sci-fi thriller that Cregger will write, direct and produce from his own idea. Warner Bros. and New Line have scheduled the film for theaters on Aug. 11, 2028, according to the project’s producer Amblin Entertainment. Amblin is producing with Roy Lee and Miri Yoon of Vertigo Entertainment. The announcement identifies no character for Lawrence and offers no plot summary. amblin +1

Variety reported that additional casting and plot details remain under wraps; the confirmed elements are the lead, filmmaker, production companies and a release date nearly two years away. variety

The project took a studio detour

The film’s route to that date is part of the story. The Hollywood Reporter says New Line picked up The Flood out of turnaround from Netflix earlier this year. Cregger wrote the screenplay based on an original idea, and the project returns him to New Line, which released Weapons. hollywoodreporter +1

Production is due to begin in Europe in the first months of 2027, The Hollywood Reporter reported. That gives the studio a long runway before the theatrical release, but the public announcement does not say where in Europe filming will take place or when more cast members will be named. hollywoodreporter

A follow-up built on a hit

Cregger’s return to New Line follows the commercial run of Weapons: Variety reported that the 2025 film grossed $270 million worldwide on a budget under $40 million. Deadline also reported that his Resident Evil adaptation had passed $200 million globally. The figures establish the commercial context for this return to New Line, but they do not reveal what The Flood is about. variety +1

Lawrence brings a different kind of recognition. She won the lead-actress Oscar for Silver Linings Playbook oscars, and Variety notes her role as the face of The Hunger Games franchise. variety The Flood pairs that established star profile with an original story rather than an announced sequel. amblin

What remains under wraps

There is one thematic clue, not a synopsis: Empire reported that Cregger has cited 2001: A Space Odyssey as an influence and discussed the film’s interest in large questions. That suggests an ambitious science-fiction frame, but the filmmakers have not publicly described the plot, Lawrence’s role or the rest of the cast. empireonline +1

For now, the next concrete milestone is production in Europe, expected to start in early 2027. The story itself remains sealed. hollywoodreporter