Zach Cregger Says New Resident Evil Movie Will “Honor” the Games—Just Weeks After Admitting He Won’t Stick to the Lore

Zach Cregger, the director behind Barbarian, is now working on something much bigger, a brand-new Resident Evil movie. It’s based on the popular Capcom video game series, and Cregger says he’s not just making another zombie flick.

He wants to create something that truly captures what it feels like to play the games.

In a recent interview with ComicBook, Cregger explained why he wanted to take on this project. “Because I love the games,” he said. “I played all of the games. I played Resident Evil 4 a hundred times through. I’m obsessed with it.”

That connection to the games is driving his entire vision for the reboot. He’s not trying to copy them exactly, but he wants the movie to give fans that same vibe.

“I just want to tell a story that feels like it’s honoring the experience you get when you play the games,” he added. Cregger also admitted that he’s never seen the older Resident Evil movies. “That’s just not my thing,” he said. “But the games are my thing. That’s just a playground I just love… I think the movie is going to rip. I think it’s going to rip.”

At CinemaCon earlier this year, he shared even more about his approach. He talked about a feeling that all Resident Evil fans know, being low on ammo and standing in front of a dark hallway, knowing something terrible is waiting inside. “That awful moment where you have to will yourself,” he said. “That’s something that every Resident Evil game has perfected and has kept me and millions of other players returning to the series for decades.”

He said the movie will have that same spirit. “It will be built in the spirit of those games and follows one central protagonist from point A to point B, as they descend deeper into hell,” Cregger explained.

But just a few weeks earlier, Cregger said something that raised eyebrows among longtime fans. In an interview with SFX Magazine, shared by GamesRadar+, he made it clear he’s not going to follow the game stories word-for-word. “I’m definitely not trying to be completely obedient to the lore of the games,” he said. “I want to tell a story that just feels authentic to the experience you get when you play the games.”

He said he doesn’t think he’s breaking any major rules, but he knows that hardcore fans might not be happy. “People are going to come for me online,” he admitted. Still, he isn’t letting that change his direction. “I just want to make a really good movie and tell a story that’s compelling,” he said. “I know I’ll be happy with it. I hope fans will be too.”

The movie has been in development since early 2025, after Sony Pictures won the rights in a bidding war. It’s being co-produced by Constantin Film and PlayStation Productions, and will be released by Columbia Pictures. As of now, filming is expected to take place in the Czech Republic, and the release date is set for September 18, 2026.

Austin Abrams will star in the lead role, though plot details are still mostly under wraps. What’s clear is that Cregger is doing things his own way. He’s not interested in copying the old movies or sticking too close to the original plots. He wants to build something new, something that still feels like Resident Evil, even if it doesn’t play by every rule.

Now it’s just a matter of waiting. Fans have two years before they’ll get to see how this new vision plays out. Cregger’s clearly confident in what he’s making, and whether fans agree or not, he’s not backing down.

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