‘I was naïve’: Zach Cregger on the Resident Evil mess

Alright, here we go again — another gaming franchise, another avalanche of fans up in arms over an adaptation. This time it’s Resident Evil in the line of fire, and the target is director Zach Cregger, who’s getting an absolute earful from the resident (pun intended) faithful ahead of his film dropping on 18 September. If you’ve noticed the outcry online, you’re not imagining it — the internet’s floodgates opened the minute fans got a whiff of what Cregger and co have cooked up.

Why Everyone’s Annoyed

Let’s get to the heart of the drama: the first trailers landed, and suddenly it was absolute carnage in the comment sections. Cregger’s film is set in a modern, rather snowy Raccoon City, with Austin Abrams leading as a brand new character called Bryan Hodukavich. That name’s not ringing any bells? You’re not alone. Fan favourites like Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield are nowhere to be seen. Instead we’re being served a fresh protagonist no one asked for. Cue the collective rage: fans wanted a loyal adaptation, not another sidestep. Can you really blame them after so many misfires over the years?

Cregger told IGN: 'I think I was naive. I thought that the fans of these games, like me, would be thrilled that somebody was coming along and turning Resident Evil into a survival horror movie.'

He went a step further, addressing the Leon-shaped hole in the cast. Quite honestly, he owned up to it:

'I did not really appreciate the sentiment that we’ve been waiting forever for Leon’s story, and I appreciate that, and I’m sorry that that’s not the story that I’m bringing here.'

At least he’s not feeding anyone PR pablum. He’s a fan himself, apparently, and hasn’t bothered watching earlier Resident Evil movies, since they didn’t capture what he loved in the games — which gives him some empathy for the franchise diehards who feel robbed now.

Cregger’s Defence (and Plea)

The director’s not tossing fan frustrations in the bin; far from it. He reckons the skepticism is fair, even admitting he understands the letdown—especially considering he skips the previous films for precisely the same 'it’s not the game' reason. But he’s still hoping people actually show up for this one, even if they turn up for a hate-watch. He’s promising all the right things: nods to the games, respect for the lore, and not just slapping the Resident Evil label on for some quick cash. In his own words, it’s 'me telling a Resident Evil story', not just paying the franchise licensing fee and calling it a day.

So what’s the plot? Abrams' Bryan Hodukavich is a medical courier trying to outpace a viral outbreak in Raccoon City. The supporting cast has Zach Cherry, Kali Reis, Johnno Wilson, and Paul Walter Hauser all chipping in, though again, don’t expect to see familiar faces from the Capcom classics.

The new Resident Evil film arrives on 18 September 2026.