Resident Evil comes with a built-in problem: the fans notice everything
Zach Cregger already has a reputation for making smart, unsettling horror with Barbarian and Weapons. Now he is stepping into a very different kind of danger zone: Resident Evil, a franchise where the audience can spot a misstep from several countries away.
The new film arrives five years after Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City, which adapted the first two games and starred Robbie Amell as Chris Redfield, Kaya Scodelario as Claire Redfield, Hannah John-Kamen as Jill Valentine, Avan Jogia as Leon Kennedy, and Tom Hopper as Albert Wesker. That movie drew mixed reviews and made $41 million at the box office, which is not exactly the kind of numbers that make a studio do cartwheels.
Cregger’s version is reportedly taking a different route by telling an original story set inside the world of the games. That is the sort of decision that can either refresh a franchise or set it on fire, depending on who is watching.
Cregger knows the reaction could get ugly
Speaking to The New York Times about Hollywood’s current enthusiasm for video game adaptations, Cregger said that when he hears about a live-action game movie, his first thought is: “don’t ruin this for me.” Which is refreshingly honest, and also a pretty good summary of how a lot of fans feel before a trailer even drops.
The feature also notes that more and more people working on these projects in Hollywood grew up with the games themselves, and Cregger is one of them.
Talking about Resident Evil, he explained: “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.” He also said he expects horror fans will “crucify” him if the film changes the source material too much.
That is hardly a comforting message for anyone hoping for a beat-for-beat adaptation. On the other hand, it is probably wise to acknowledge the backlash before the internet does it for you.
What we know about the story so far
The plot is still being kept quiet, but a 2025 leak said Weapons and Euphoria star Austin Abrams would play a medical courier who ends up fighting to survive the horrors unleashed by the T-virus. It is not yet clear whether the story takes place during the original outbreak or somewhere else in the franchise timeline.
Cregger has already said the film will not be “obedient” to the lore, which should tell fans exactly how much nervous anticipation to pack.
Until more concrete details emerge, the best we can do is wait, speculate, and brace for the inevitable internet discourse.
