After early praise was given to hisWeaponsmovie, director Zack Cregger’s upcomingResident Evilreboot promises to be something unique, and the auteur recently revealed which projects from the popular zombie franchise he avoided during the film’s development.Resident Evilhas been adapted for live-action before, thanks to Paul W.S. Anderson’s film series that ran between 2002 and 2016 and starred Milla Jovovich.
Resident Evil, orBiohazardas it’s known in Japan, is a survival horror shooter from Capcom that first hit the horror scene back in 1996, and the IP expanded to include television series, comics, novels, and audiobooks. The latest game to be announced is a multiplayer strategy game, andResident Evil Survival Unitwill feature some iconic charactersfrom the franchise. Fans also haveResident Evil Requiemto look forward to, announced during Summer Game Fest, which will be released next year alongside Cregger’s reboot movie.
Resident Evil Reboot Director Didn’t Watch Paul W.S. Anderson’s Movies
Posted in a Deadline report viaMovieWeb, Cregger revealed that he hadn’t seen any of Anderson’s previous movies, nor the recentWelcome to Raccoon City. “I haven’t seen the movies, that’s just not my thing. But the games are my thing. That’s just a playground I just love. I think the movie is going to rip,” the director explained, but confirmed he had played all the games, includingResident Evil 4, which was played “a hundred times through.” Cregger shared that he wanted to tell a story that “feels like it’s honoring the experience you get when you play the games,” which fans will surely appreciate. Previously leaked plot details for theResident Evilreboot suggested the movie’s placement in the game series, noting that the events of the film will feature an intact Raccoon City initially.
I haven’t seen the movies, that’s just not my thing. But the games are my thing. That’s just a playground I just love. I think the movie is going to rip.
Earlier in the year, a rumor reported that theResident Evilreboot had found its lead starin aEuphoriaactor, who will reportedly play the role of a courier, Bryan, who gets caught up in Umbrella’s shenanigans while fulfilling a late-night delivery. After meeting a mysterious stranger on the road, all hell breaks loose during an outbreak, which unleashes “tentacle-based mutations and bio-engineered monstrosities.”
Despite referring primarily to Capcom’s video game series during the development process,Cregger revealed how hisResident Evilreboot will differ from the games. While trying to craft a unique experience that still feels authentic to the source material, the director noted that he didn’t play obediently to the lore rulebook either, with his main aim being to craft a compelling story. Cregger stated that he’d never seen a movie quite like his rendition of the iconic story, but some fans remain skeptical if any straying from the original games is mentioned.
TheResident Evilreboot is expected to be released on July 21, 2025.
