MOVIE NEWS – Following the success of Weapons, it looks like Zach Cregger could be handed unusual creative freedom on the next Resident Evil film – a setup that can either pay off big or backfire fast.
Resident Evil has long been a commercial heavyweight among video game adaptations, but fans of Capcom‘s games have rarely been fully satisfied by the franchise’s screen versions – and many would rather pretend the Netflix series never happened. Still, there is room for cautious optimism this time, because the new movie is being shaped by Zach Cregger, who proved his horror instincts with Barbarian (2022) and, more recently, with Weapons, which many have hailed as one of the genre’s strongest recent releases.
According to Oliver Berben, CEO of Constantin Film, that track record appears to have bought Cregger significant autonomy on the project: “He’ll have a blank check to do whatever he wants. With Resident Evil we’ve had an incredible journey, with one of the most profitable international IPs that has grossed over a billion dollars at the box office for years. Now we’re making something new; it’s not just a different idea for the story, it’s letting a new generation take the property into their hands and shape something different.”
That kind of freedom, however, is a double-edged sword. The statement can be read as a sign that there may not be close creative collaboration with Capcom again – something some viewers consider a missed opportunity, given the franchise’s recent momentum in games. On the other hand, it may simply mean the film will not be chained to earlier screen iterations, nor forced to function as a launchpad for pre-planned sequels. Either way, at least on paper, Cregger will not be working with his hands tied.
What Cregger Says He Wants to Build
Cregger has also stressed that he is not looking to translate any single game plot directly, but to craft a fresh story that still feels unmistakably Resident Evil – and stays within the franchise’s canon while respecting what players love about it: “I respect the games enough to present a Resident Evil story within the canon of Resident Evil that keeps intact everything they like about the games. I think when you see it, you’ll understand.”
As things stand, the new Resident Evil movie is expected to hit theaters in September 2026.
Source: 3DJuegos
