New Resident Evil Movie is Officially Happening at Sony

Sony is bringing Resident Evil back to the big screen, and it’s happening sooner than you might think. The studio has locked in a release date of September 18, 2026, for a fresh take on the classic horror franchise.

This isn’t just another reboot to toss into the pile—they’ve tapped Zach Cregger, the guy behind the creepy hit Barbarian, to write and direct it. If you’ve seen his work, you know he’s got a knack for keeping us on edge.

What’s the big deal here? This movie is aiming to ditch the action-heavy vibe of past Resident Evil films and dive deep into the horror that made the original Capcom games so unforgettable.

Think dark corridors, jump scares, and that eerie survival vibe from the 1996 classic—I’m already getting chills imagining it. Cregger’s a self-proclaimed fan of the series, so we might finally get a film that feels true to those early PlayStation days.

The news dropped via Deadline, and it’s clear Sony’s all in on this one. They’ve partnered with Constantin Film, the crew behind the earlier Resident Evil movies, and PlayStation Productions is jumping in too.

That lineup alone tells me they’re serious about making this work. Cregger isn’t flying solo on the script either—he’s teamed up with Shay Hatten, who’s penned stuff like John Wick: Chapter 3 and Ballerina. That mix of horror and action chops could be just what this franchise needs.

Now, let’s talk about Zach Cregger for a sec. Before Barbarian freaked everyone out in 2022, he was part of the comedy group The Whitest Kids U’Know. Going from laughs to screams might sound wild, but Barbarian proved he’s got the goods. That movie, with its twisted plot and a monster you won’t forget, pulled in $45 million on a tiny $4.5 million budget. He’s also got another horror flick, Weapons, coming in January 2026 with stars like Josh Brolin and Julia Garner. Busy guy, and clearly Hollywood’s betting big on him.

Sony’s got history with Resident Evil—they released all six of the Milla Jovovich-led films, which raked in $1.2 billion worldwide. Those leaned hard into explosions and zombie-killing chaos, but they weren’t exactly scary. The 2021 reboot, Welcome to Raccoon City, tried to stick closer to the games, yet it still left a lot of us wanting more.

This time, with Cregger at the helm, the promise is a return to the franchise’s spooky roots. ‘I’ve been a rabid fan of these games for decades, and to be able to bring this amazing title to life is a true honor,’ he told Deadline. That passion could be the key.

Constantin’s Robert Kulzer is hyped too, saying, ‘The world of Resident Evil experienced through Zach’s vision is an irresistible feat.’ If they pull this off, we might finally get a Resident Evil movie that doesn’t just cash in on the name but actually delivers the dread we’ve been craving. Mark your calendars—September 18, 2026, could be a game-changer.