Zach Cregger Says He’s Been On an ‘Apology Tour’ to Stop ‘Resident Evil’ Fans From Calling Him a LARPer

Horror fans have had a lot to process this year watching Zach Cregger’s meteoric rise from indie disruptor to one of the genre’s most trusted names. After ‘Barbarian’ put him on the map and ‘Weapons’ turned him into an awards-season fixture, Cregger is now stepping into far more established territory with a franchise that comes with its own passionate, occasionally unforgiving fanbase.

That franchise is ‘Resident Evil,’ and the pressure of taking on one of gaming’s most beloved horror properties has clearly weighed on him throughout the process. Cregger has spent much of the past year fielding questions about his credibility with the source material, even as he’s tried to reassure skeptics that his love for the games runs deep.

Now, in a new interview, Cregger is opening up about just how exhausting that skepticism has become. Speaking with The Playlist, Cregger said he feels like he has been on something of an apology tour to stop people from calling him a LARPer, comparing the ongoing defense of his fandom to running for political office.

“Now, I’m just like, ‘You know what? See the movie,'” Cregger continued in that same conversation with The Playlist. “If you still feel the same way, then whatever you think is fair.”

Part of what makes Cregger’s frustration understandable is just how much preparation went into earning this opportunity in the first place. Rather than writing a speculative script, Cregger had the entire story mapped out in his head before ever approaching Constantin Film, the rights holder for the franchise, and pitched the concept directly rather than risk writing something that might never see the light of day.

Once Constantin gave its blessing, Cregger began writing the screenplay with co-writer Shay Hatten, shaping an original story that follows Bryan, a medical courier played by Austin Abrams, whose routine delivery spirals into a nightmarish fight for survival as Raccoon City collapses around him. Abrams previously worked with Cregger on ‘Weapons,’ playing a small but memorable role that convinced the director he had found his lead before ‘Resident Evil’ had even become a real project.

Stylistically, the film also marks a departure from the twisty, multi-perspective structures that defined ‘Barbarian’ and ‘Weapons.’ Cregger described stripping away much of the score during the final mix, testing scenes with no music at all to see how audiences responded to tension without being emotionally guided by a soundtrack.

Despite the challenges of defending his vision publicly, Cregger hasn’t ruled out sticking around in the world he’s built. He told The Playlist he already has ideas about where another story in this particular corner of the franchise could go, though he was careful to note that nothing is confirmed since the film hasn’t even been released yet.

That openness stands in contrast to how he talks about revisiting ‘Barbarian,’ a project he has consistently said doesn’t need a sequel given the nature of its story. ‘Resident Evil,’ by comparison, appears to have left him with more he wants to explore, particularly around the film’s ending, which he teased as containing a major element he’s eager to discuss once audiences have actually seen it.

For now, all eyes are on how the finished film lands with the fandom Cregger has spent so long trying to win over. Early reactions to a 30-minute preview screening have reportedly been positive, but the real test comes once the movie opens in theaters.

‘Resident Evil’ arrives in theaters on September 18 through Columbia Pictures, giving Cregger just under two weeks before finding out whether his apology tour finally comes to an end.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!