Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil Reboot: A Bold Move Away from Raccoon City!

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Summary

  • Zach Cregger will co-write and direct the new Resident Evil film reboot, sparking intrigue among fans.
  • The adaptation may remain more faithful to the game series, with a possible European setting.
  • Potential game inspirations for the film include Resident Evil 4, Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, and Resident Evil 8: Village.

The fresh take on “Resident Evil” is slated to hit theaters on September 18, 2026. It’s been confirmed that Zach Cregger will collaborate in writing and directing this new version. Cregger rose to fame with his initial work on “The Barbarian” (2022), a movie that quickly earned cult status and made him a recognized figure in the horror genre. When he announced his next project, “Weapons,” it ignited a fierce competition among studios, eventually landing with Warner’s New Line division.

The appointment of Cregger as the director of the new Resident Evil reboot has ignited curiosity among fans, given that previous adaptations of the popular game series, directed by Paul W.S. Anderson and starring Milla Jovovich, were often criticized for being poor representations of the original content. After the film series ended in 2016, another adaptation, Resident Evil: Welcome To Raccoon City (from 2021), received even more negative feedback from fans. Given this history, it’s intriguing that Constantin Film (the studio behind the six Paul W.S. Anderson films) is attempting another adaptation. This choice of director may indicate that they have taken fan feedback into consideration and are aiming for a better outcome in their third attempt.

As a fervent fan, I can say that while details about this upcoming film are still scarce, The Hollywood Reporter hints that it will stick closer to the original video games compared to previous adaptations. Director Johannes Robert Cregger is currently exploring European locations, indicating a shift in direction from past films. Unlike Paul W.S. Anderson’s films, which veered significantly away from the game’s storyline, Raccoon City was initially part of their settings. Similarly, Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City, as the title suggests, seems to be a blend of narratives from the Resident Evil 1 and 2 games.

If the next Resident Evil film is set in Europe, it’s probably going to be based on one of the unadapted games from the series or a new story with European settings. However, given that rumors suggest the game will closely follow the source material, it’s unlikely we’ll see a completely new story. Since Raccoon City is a fictional town inspired by America (potentially Midwest), it’s likely we won’t see its return in Cregger’s adaptation, which means fans can expect the film to deviate from Resident Evil 1-3. So, what other games from the series could the film draw inspiration from?

Option 1: Resident Evil 4

Among fans of the “Resident Evil” series, both the original “Resident Evil 4” and its remake are often regarded as some of the finest entries within the collection. The game takes place in rural Spain and follows Leon Kennedy on his mission to rescue the president’s daughter, Ashley Graham, who has been abducted by a cult under the influence of a parasite capable of mind control. The narrative of the game appears tailor-made for a thrilling action-adventure zombie horror movie on the big screen. Given that the “Resident Evil” games strive to replicate this genre, particularly in the case of “Resident Evil 4”, fans would be treated to a fresh storyline and setting while still recognizing Leon Kennedy, a beloved character and emblematic figure for the franchise.

Option 2: Resident Evil 7: Biohazard

Resident Evil 7: Biohazard” was the seventh major installment in the Resident Evil series, following “Resident Evil 5” and “6”. These previous games had moved away from the original survival horror genre, which left some fans feeling a bit let down. In contrast, “Biohazard” went back to basics, with just one location and a new protagonist named Ethan Winters, who was searching for his missing wife. The creators of “Biohazard” drew inspiration from the 1981 horror movie “The Evil Dead” to help recreate that classic survival horror atmosphere. This means that “Biohazard” could potentially be a fantastic game to bring back the survival horror genre in cinema.

Zach Cregger, during CinemaCon (as reported by Deadline), shared his thoughts on Resident Evil. He stated, “In every Resident Evil game, there’s a pivotal moment when you’re standing at the entrance of a dark corridor. You have one bullet left, you know something terrifying lurks in the darkness ahead, that tense instant where you have to psych yourself up. That’s what each Resident Evil game has mastered and kept gamers like me and millions more coming back for years.” What caught attention was his subsequent remark suggesting a possible alignment with Resident Evil 7’s setting:

“What I love about Resident Evil is that it’s not just horror, but a unique blend of action, suspense, and survival. And with the latest installment, they’ve managed to take this balance to another level. The new game feels like a fresh take on the series, yet it still holds onto the essence of what makes Resident Evil special – that claustrophobic, tense, and terrifying atmosphere. With its focus on exploration and puzzle-solving, I can’t help but feel that this latest entry could bring us closer to the immersive, first-person perspective of Resident Evil 7.

My film is inspired by those games and narrates a single hero’s journey from point A to point B, as they venture ever deeper into the underworld.

It appears you’re referring to the plot of the Resident Evil series, specifically focusing on the character Ethan Winters who found himself in increasingly dark and terrifying situations while trying to leave the Baker family mansion.

Some viewers might wonder, “Didn’t the game ‘Biohazard’ take place in Louisiana?” and they would indeed be correct. Unlike the games based on Raccoon City, the setting of ‘Biohazard’ doesn’t have an overtly American feel and could potentially be filmed in rural Europe instead. The primary location Ethan investigates in ‘Biohazard’ is a dilapidated plantation nestled in the countryside. Moreover, the game’s grimy swamp-like atmosphere bears a resemblance to that of ‘Resident Evil 4’, which was set in Spain. So, if Cregger is searching for a location similar to Biohazard, Europe might be an appropriate choice.

Option 3: Resident Evil 8: Village

As a passionate moviegoer and fan of the Resident Evil series, I can’t help but feel excited about the latest addition to the franchise: Resident Evil: Village. This game presents an intriguing new villain, Lady Dimitrescu, in a chilling castle backdrop somewhere in Eastern Europe. Given its unique location and recent release, it seems like a compelling choice for an upcoming film adaptation. However, to provide a comprehensive understanding of the story and Ethan Winters’ character arc, it might be more advantageous for the creators to adapt Biohazard first. After all, Village is indeed a sequel to this game, and Ethan’s current quest revolves around finding his missing daughter – a journey that unfolds following the events of Biohazard.

Regardless of the path that director Cregger chooses for the forthcoming Resident Evil movie remake, fans can anticipate something novel and invigorating. Given Cregger’s demonstrated proficiency in the horror genre, viewers can also be confident in his talent to deliver a Resident Evil film that has long been eagerly awaited with faithfulness.

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2025-04-01 19:24