Zach Cregger’s 'Resident Evil' Reboot Promises Something New — Fans Are Curious (and Cautious)
When the biggest fan takes the reins, expectations shift.
Zach Cregger, the filmmaker behind the acclaimed horror hit Barbarian, is now turning his attention to one of gaming’s most iconic franchises: Resident Evil. But this isn’t just another adaptation — it’s a project led by someone who’s spent years inside the world he’s recreating.
In a recent interview, Cregger spoke openly about his love for the games, especially Resident Evil 4, which he claims to have played "a hundred times through." That obsession has clearly shaped his approach.
"I just want to tell a story that feels like it’s honoring the experience you get when you play the games," he said.
What makes this reboot unusual is that Cregger hasn’t watched any of the previous Resident Evil films. Not out of disdain, he says — they’re simply "not my thing." For him, the games have always been the real heart of the franchise. That alone might explain why fans are paying closer attention this time.
He also described a key moment that defines the series for him: standing at the edge of darkness, low on ammo, knowing something awful is about to lunge from the shadows. That kind of dread — simple, focused, earned — is what he’s hoping to capture on screen. "I think the movie is going to rip," he added with a grin.
The film will follow one central character through a descent 'from point A to point B' — a structure he says is deliberately stripped down to preserve tension and clarity. And fans have started weighing in. On Reddit, reactions range from cautious optimism to genuine excitement:
"That's fine. I don't want to see a frame-by-frame retelling of the games. Capturing the general atmosphere of the games is enough," wrote spookycatfan.
"Yeah I just want it more like the games' tone and atmosphere than previous Resident Evil movies," noted runnerofshadows.
"I enjoyed Barbarian and really looking forward to Weapons. Resident Evil with Barbarian vibe might work well as long as the story and visuals are good enough," as TiredCoffeeTime put it.
With a release date set for 18 September 2026, there’s still a long road ahead. But for a franchise often criticised for missing what made the games great, this reboot might finally be heading in a different direction — and maybe even the right one.
