Zach Cregger Promises Upcoming Resident Evil Movie Will “Honor” the Games Weeks After Saying He Won’t Be Obedient to the Lore of the Games

Zach Cregger, known for directing Barbarian, is stepping into the world of Resident Evil, and he’s making it clear that his version of the movie is going to feel different, in a good way.

The reboot is officially in the works, with Austin Abrams set to star, and Cregger is already hyping it up as something that’s not just another game adaptation, but something more personal.

In a recent interview with ComicBook, Cregger explained why he wanted to take on this project. “Because I love the games,” he said. “I played all of the games. I played Resident Evil 4 a hundred times through. I’m obsessed with it.”

That passion seems to be the foundation of his whole vision for the film. He said he wants the movie to capture the feeling of playing the games. “I just want to tell a story that feels like it’s honoring the experience you get when you play the games.”

But don’t expect the movie to follow every little detail from the original game plots. While he clearly loves the franchise, Cregger told SFX Magazine, via GamesRadar+, that he’s not going to stick tightly to the established lore. “I’m definitely not trying to be completely obedient to the lore of the games,” he said. “I want to tell a story that just feels authentic to the experience you get when you play the games.”

He also admitted that some fans won’t be happy with that approach. “People are going to come for me online,” he said, but added that he’s not going to let that stop him. “I just want to make a really good movie and tell a story that’s compelling.” He said he’s confident in the final result, whether or not everyone agrees with his choices.

At CinemaCon earlier this year, Cregger shared even more about the tone he’s aiming for. He described a feeling that all Resident Evil players know too well. “There’s a moment that comes in every moment of every Resident Evil game where you find yourself standing in the mouth of a dark passageway. One shot in the gun is left,” he said.

“You know that something horrible is waiting for you in that darkness.” That tension, that dread, is exactly what he wants to bring to the screen.

The new Resident Evil film will follow one main character on a journey that gets darker and darker. “It will be built in the spirit of those games and follows one central protagonist from point A to point B, as they descend deeper into hell,” Cregger said.

Even though this is a new take on the franchise, Cregger isn’t coming at it from the outside. He said, “I’m a gigantic Resident Evil game fan,” and while he hasn’t watched the previous movie versions, he feels totally connected to the material because of the games themselves. “That’s just a playground I just love,” he said. “I think the movie is going to rip. I think it’s going to rip.”

Sony Pictures got the rights to the new Resident Evil project after a bidding war earlier in 2025. The film is being made by Constantin Film and PlayStation Productions, and will be released by Columbia Pictures. Filming is expected to take place in the Czech Republic, and the release date is set for September 18, 2026.

So far, Cregger’s message is clear. He’s not trying to copy the games, but to capture their soul. Fans will have to wait to see if his version hits the mark, but one thing’s for sure: he’s not just another director taking on a big IP. He’s a fan, and this one means a lot to him.

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