From Barbarian to $20 Million Club — How Zach Cregger’s Third Film Landed Him Among Hollywood’s Elite
Kind of wild when you remember he’s only made two films.
Zach Cregger is directing a new Resident Evil film for Sony’s Columbia Pictures — and he’s getting a jaw-dropping $20 million upfront, plus a cut of the box office. For a filmmaker with only two features behind him, that’s… unexpected.
Even bolder, Sony locked the deal months before Weapons, his second film, was even released. Either they saw something that convinced them instantly, or Barbarian alone was enough to seal the deal.
Joining the $20 Million Club
Very few directors hit this level — we’re talking Peter Jackson, Christopher Nolan, James Cameron, Quentin Tarantino, Martin Scorsese. Studios pay not just for the movie, but for the pull of the director’s name. And Sony clearly thinks 'From Zach Cregger' is a selling point worth every penny.
A Fresh Spin on Resident Evil
Cregger’s version is set to respect the games’ spirit but tell an original story (and the fact he hasn’t seen a single previous film somehow gives me even more faith in this project). That could be exactly what the franchise needs after years of mixed results.
One thing’s certain — the stakes for this reboot just got a lot higher.
