The director of the new Resident Evil movie insists he’s a massive fan: “I haven’t seen the movies, but I’ve played all the games.” Zach Cregger is about to release Weapons, and then he’ll turn his focus to Resident Evil.

As you may know, a brand-new Resident Evil film is in the works. After the disappointment of Welcome to Raccoon City and the Netflix Resident Evil series, you might think Hollywood would’ve lost interest in the franchise. But with survival horror still selling millions of copies every year, it’s no surprise everyone wants a piece. The real twist is how interesting the new director’s comments have been so far.

A Resident Evil 4 Superfan Takes the Helm

Zach Cregger is releasing Weapons through New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. on August 8, which means he’s out giving interviews to promote his thriller. This gives us more insight into his next project: a feature film set in the Resident Evil universe. Recently, Cregger emphasized his desire to stay true to Capcom’s saga, but he’s also unafraid to take creative liberties. That may concern some hardcore fans, but the young filmmaker’s passion should be reassuring.

“I haven’t seen the movies, that’s not my thing. But the games are my thing. I love their video games. I’ve played them all. I played Resident Evil 4 like a hundred times. I’m obsessed with it. So, I just want to tell a story that feels like it honors the experience you get when you play the game. I haven’t seen the movies; that’s not my thing. But the games are my thing. That’s a playground that I just love… I think the movie is going to be a hit. I think it’s going to succeed.”

It’s hard to believe that someone who’s played Resident Evil 4 a hundred times would make a film that strays from the spirit of the franchise, which bodes well for fans. However, it’s less reassuring that he hasn’t watched any of the earlier movies. Maybe he should at least take a look at Welcome to Raccoon City to see what not to do? Either way, the film is set to premiere on September 18, 2026, with Austin Abrams in the lead.

By the way, Weapons is looking promising: its story centers on an entire class of students—except for one—vanishing mysteriously on the same night, at exactly the same time. “The small town where they live wonders who or what is behind their disappearance.” The movie debuts on August 8, and you can find a trailer linked to the news.

Source: PC Gamer