Zach Cregger Shares a Resident Evil Take That Could Split the Fanbase

So, here's something I honestly didn't expect—Zach Cregger, the guy behind 'Barbarian' (yes, the one with the basement), is signed on to direct a brand new 'Resident Evil' movie for Sony. They're targeting a wide release in theaters on September 18, 2026. If your first thought is 'Not another weird RE adaptation,' I get it. Stick with me, though, because this one sounds a little off the beaten path, even by 'Resident Evil' standards.

The Familiar Umbrella, With a Twist

First off, Cregger is leaning in hard to the video game roots—he keeps promising the film will be 'obedient to the lore.' But if you’re hoping for Leon, Claire, or Chris to pop up, don’t hold your breath. Cregger claims those stories have been 'told in the games.' Translation: this movie’s going for its own corner of Raccoon City, and maybe that’s for the best given the movie history of this franchise.

The shoot actually wrapped a couple months back. Production took over Prague, turning random European streets into snowy Raccoon City, complete with all the imminent monster doom you'd expect. They’ve already gone into post-production, and Cregger himself is half-joking that he hopes fans 'won't crucify' him when this thing finally hits screens.

What’s the Story, Then?

The script is a team-up by Cregger and Shay Hatten, who wrote 'Army of the Dead' (lots of zombies, lots of chaos, so at least the resume checks out). And the plot? Well, the gist is: a guy named Bryan has the worst delivery shift of his life. He’s an 'organ courier' (which, yes, is apparently a real thing in this universe), trying to get a delivery to Raccoon City General Hospital in the middle of a blizzard. On the way, he hits a mysterious woman with his car. She survives… but clearly, she’s not all there. Cue the mutated tentacles and bio-monsters. Before you know it, Bryan is knee-deep in classic horror territory, with a full-on outbreak going down. So, big points for sticking to the original creepy horror vibe instead of action schlock.

Cast: No Big Names, But Some Familiar Faces

• Austin Abrams ('Euphoria', 'Do Revenge') leads as Bryan, the unlucky courier.
• Paul Walter Hauser ('Cobra Kai') is in there somewhere—no word on his character.
• Zach Cherry ('Severance') plays a hospital scientist.
• Johnno Wilson ('I Love That for You')—role still under wraps.
• Kali Reis (last seen in 'True Detective: Night Country') is playing an ex-military character, a part originally written for a dude.

The Vibe: Cameras Getting Weird

Cregger, who says he's a 'huge fan' of the 'Resident Evil' games (and, surprisingly, has never watched a single one of the previous movies), calls this project his chance to 'turn his brain off and just make an... Evil Dead II... get crazy with the camera.' Supposedly, he's ditching the slow-burn style of 'Barbarian' and 'Weapons' for something much wilder—a 'rock 'em, sock 'em... it's for me to play.' And here's his description for what the movie is actually like:

'This movie follows a person from point A to point B. It’s like a real time journey, where you just go deeper and deeper into the depths of Hell.'

Frankly, that all sounds like a good time. Or at the very least, a different kind of trainwreck than what we've had with 'Resident Evil' movies before.

Production: Who’s Pulling Strings?

It’s another big team-up of people who know how to spend money. Constantin Film (they’ve been doing 'Resident Evil' movies for ages) is producing and co-financing along with Roy Lee and Miri Yoon from Vertigo Entertainment, PlayStation Productions, and a few others. Nicole Brown is steering the ship for Sony’s Columbia Pictures. If names like Roy Lee ring a bell, he’s the guy saying Cregger is delivering 'a roller coaster ride of nonstop action.' Personally, I’d settle for a movie that’s at least recognizably 'Resident Evil,' so here’s hoping.

Fan Reactions: The Elephant in the Room

Here’s where things could get dicey. Cregger told The New York Times that he knows fans are probably ready to get their pitchforks if this thing veers too far off course. He’s trying to strike a balance between not doing another beat-for-beat adaptation (which, fair, those rarely work) and giving audiences something fun and surprising—even if it means twisting a few limbs on the old lore tree.

'I love the idea of being pitted against a world that is hellbent on annihilating you. It just feels fun, and I haven’t seen a movie that offers that sort of experience.'

So, the director's definitely got vision. Whether it’s a vision anybody else wants to see, well... that’s another experiment. At least it sounds like we’re getting more mutated horror and less generic action, which is a step in the right direction for this franchise if you ask me.

Are you actually up for another 'Resident Evil' movie, especially one that’s steering away from the main gaming heroes? Or has this franchise used up all its second chances? Drop your take below.