‘Hunger Games’ Star Mckenna Grace Names the Directors on Her Dream List, and Horror Fans Will Approve

Few young actors have built a résumé as quickly as Mckenna Grace. She has already moved from child-star roles into franchise territory, and V Magazine has described her as Hollywood’s scream queen in the making. That momentum makes her wish list of collaborators especially interesting.

The credits keep stacking up. Grace appeared in ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s 2’ and played Hannah Thurman in ‘Scream 7’. Her latest big release is ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping,’ where she plays District 12 tribute Maysilee Donner and also portrays her twin sister, with the film opening in North American theaters on November 20, 2026.

With that run behind her, Grace has now spoken about who she would like to work with next. In an interview with Vogue Australia, she named three directors she hopes to team up with in the future: Zach Cregger, Curry Barker and Robert Eggers. Each is a leading name in modern horror, which suggests her franchise success hasn’t changed where her creative interests lie.

Mckenna Grace names Zach Cregger, Curry Barker and Robert Eggers as the directors she’d like to work with in the future. (Via Vogue Australia) https://t.co/gBoVVYTJVc

— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) November 14, 2026

Cregger is the biggest name of the three at the box office. His film ‘Weapons’ reached the top spot in the US domestic box office, opening with $42.5 million. His follow-up was even bigger: the ‘Resident Evil’ reboot opened to $60.2 million domestically.

That reboot quickly became the biggest financial success of his directing career. His earlier film ‘Barbarian’ also made noise, since it became a major sleeper hit and helped establish Cregger as a filmmaker to watch. For an actor who has already tackled a slasher franchise, a Cregger project would be a natural fit.

Barker is the newest name on the list. The filmmaker began in sketch comedy, and first stepped into the spotlight in a comedy duo called ‘That’s a Bad Idea,’ posting sketches on YouTube. His feature ‘Obsession’ was shot in Los Angeles over 20 days for less than $1 million and sparked a frenzied bidding war at the Toronto International Film Festival.

The film then became a theatrical success. The following weekend, ‘Obsession’ easily cleared $20 million in the US. Barker’s next steps include a “reimagining” of ‘The Texas Chain Saw Massacre’ for A24, so Grace would be getting in on the ground floor of a fast-rising career.

Eggers represents the more auteur-driven corner of the genre. His vampire film ‘Nosferatu’ has become his highest-grossing film to date, making $156.3 million off a $50 million budget. His credits also include ‘The Witch,’ ‘The Lighthouse’ and ‘The Northman.’

His next project is close. Focus Features will release his film ‘Werwulf’ in theaters on December 25, 2026. It is a werewolf horror project set in 13th-century England. A period piece in that style would offer Grace a very different challenge from a modern slasher.

Together, the three names tell a clear story. Cregger offers mainstream-scale scares, Barker offers a fresh, low-budget energy, and Eggers offers atmosphere and historical detail. All three are known for treating horror as a serious craft rather than a throwaway genre.

It also fits Grace’s trajectory. She has built her career on versatility, moving from drama to family films to horror. Working with any of these directors would let her push further into the genre while expanding her range.

For now, none of these collaborations has been announced, and the interview is simply an expression of interest. Still, a young star naming directors this specific can send a signal to casting teams. Filmmakers on this list are often looking for actors who can handle intensity, and Grace has already shown she can.

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