Resident Evil Movie Director Says He Won’t Stick to Game Story: “People Will Come for Me Online”

Zach Cregger, the director behind the upcoming Resident Evil movie, has admitted that he won’t strictly follow the story and world of the famous video game series. Even though he’s a big fan of the games himself, he knows that some fans won’t be happy with what he’s planning.

Cregger is the director of the horror movie Barbarian, and now he’s working on bringing Resident Evil back to the big screen.

He’s both writing and directing the new movie, which is meant to be a fresh start for the film series. Earlier this year, he said the movie would be “in the spirit of the games” and would feel “unlike any of the previous films.” But during a new interview with SFX Magazine, shared by GamesRadar+, he gave fans more details about his approach, and not everyone will like it.

Cregger said he’s loved the Resident Evil games for a long time. He explained, “I’m a gigantic Resident Evil game fan.” He said he’s played all of them and joked that he’s lost count of how many times he’s played Resident Evil 4.

Still, despite being a fan, he made it clear that he doesn’t plan to copy the games completely. In his words, “I’m definitely not trying to be completely obedient to the lore of the games.”

Instead of following the exact storyline, Cregger said he wants to make a movie that “just feels authentic to the experience you get when you play the games.” He also said he doesn’t believe he’s breaking any big rules with his ideas. But at the same time, he knows not everyone will be pleased.

He said, “People are going to come for me online.” Still, he’s not letting that stop him. He explained that his goal is simple: “I just want to make a really good movie and tell a story that’s compelling.” He added that he’s confident he’ll be proud of the finished film and hopes fans will enjoy it too.

The new Resident Evil movie has been in development since early 2025. Back in January, it was reported that Cregger had been chosen to lead the project. The film is being co-produced by Constantin Film and PlayStation Productions.

In March, Sony Pictures won the rights to the franchise after a bidding war, and the film will now be released by Columbia Pictures. Fans can expect to see it in cinemas on September 18, 2026. Reports from June 2025 said that the movie will be filmed in the Czech Republic.

For now, Resident Evil fans will have to wait and see whether Cregger’s less traditional take on the series will win them over, or spark more debate online, just like he expects.

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