Following the critical acclaim of his horror films Barbarian and Weapons, writer-director Zach Cregger is now embarking on a new Resident Evil movie project. He has recently provided further details about the film, including his decision to adapt an established story instead of developing another original screenplay.
In a recent interview, Cregger expressed his belief that his upcoming Resident Evil film is, in essence, “original,” and he anticipates that viewers will grasp this concept upon experiencing the movie. However, he chose not to elaborate further on this particular point.
Cregger also revealed that he has purposefully avoided watching any of the previous six live-action Resident Evil movies directed by Paul W.S. Anderson. He explicitly stated, “I`ve never seen a Resident Evil movie. If there are people out there who are rabid fans of the movie franchise, they are probably not really prepared for what I am going to be doing. But I think fans of the games are going to be stoked.”
During the discussion, Cregger indicated that his Resident Evil film aims to faithfully capture the “experience” of the video games. He suggested it will likely “live in the world” of Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3, but will align more closely with the atmospheric tone of Resident Evil 4. Despite these influences, the film will not be a direct adaptation of any single Resident Evil game.
Cregger highlighted that the video game franchise itself is not constrained by strict lore, rigid timelines, or fixed settings. He commented, “I don`t think I am taking any more liberties with this [movie] than the game franchise does. I think I am coloring within the lines.” He conveyed his profound excitement for the project, adding, “I`ve never seen a movie like it. I am beyond excited making this.”
The director affirmed that his signature tonal approach and filmmaking sensibilities, honed through his work on Barbarian and Weapons, will be evident in the Resident Evil film. This will, however, be presented on a significantly larger scale and with a more substantial budget.
He articulated his vision for the viewer`s experience: “It takes place in the world of the games, but most importantly, the journey you`ll have as a viewer watching this movie is going to be similar to the journey you have as a player when you play these games. What that means is it follows one protagonist from point A to point B as they descend deeper and deeper and deeper into hell.” Cregger, a dedicated player of the series, expressed confidence in translating this player experience to the big screen. “As someone who has played I don`t know how many thousands and thousands of hours of Resident Evil, I just feel like I know how that pacing can go, and it`s inherently cinematic. I feel like there is a great movie that can live inside this world and inside that sort of pacing. I am really, really pumped about the story that we get to tell here.”
Regarding the production timeline, Cregger confirmed that principal photography for the Resident Evil movie is slated to commence this October in Prague, continuing through the end of January 2026. He justified the choice of Prague by citing the city`s favorable tax rebates and other logistical advantages, affirming, “It`s the right place.”
The film is currently scheduled for release in September 2026. While official casting announcements are still pending, Austin Abrams, who featured in Cregger`s film Weapons, is reportedly a potential candidate for a role.