Resident Evil Director Zach Cregger Thinks Fans Might ‘Crucify’ Him for Movie

Zach Cregger is no stranger to making audiences uncomfortable, but his next project may test a different kind of tension entirely. The Barbarian director is stepping into one of gaming’s most sacred universes, and he already knows not everyone will be happy about it. Cregger opened up about why he expects the Resident Evil fans to have strong feelings about his upcoming reboot.

Zach Cregger believes Resident Evil fans might ‘crucify’ him if he deviates from source material

Zach Cregger, directing the 2026 Resident Evil reboot, acknowledged that gamers will likely “crucify” him if he strays too far from the source material. He told the New York Times he “warily crosses his arms” whenever he hears of a project inspired by a game he loves. Cregger also stated he expects some negative responses, as pleasing every fan of a massive franchise is impossible.

His reboot introduces entirely new characters, including a medical courier named Brian, played by Austin Abrams, stranded in an isolated Raccoon City hospital during a 1998 outbreak. Cregger explained that retelling the stories of iconic figures like Leon Kennedy and Chris Redfield risks angering fans through changes to their established origins. The film also stars Paul Walter Hauser, Kali Reis, and Zach Cherry, with a theatrical release set for September 18, 2026.

Cregger’s comments come as Hollywood aggressively pursues video game intellectual property. A Minecraft Movie earned $961 million globally, while The Super Mario Bros. Movie grossed $1.36 billion. Derek Douglas, head of Creative Artists Agency’s game division, noted, “It’s not like Hollywood discovered games, it’s that games became bigger than Hollywood.”

Recent successes have studios developing adaptations of major franchises, including Call of Duty and The Legend of Zelda. Five Nights at Freddy’s also demonstrated that cult gaming titles can earn $292 million at the box office. The latest Super Mario film opened in theaters this week alongside several other game-based projects.

The Resident Evil franchise, created by Shinji Mikami and Tokuro Fujiwara, launched its first game in 1996. The most recent installment, Resident Evil Requiem, released on February 27, 2026, received phenomenal reviews. Cregger’s film aims to capture the franchise’s suspense while telling a completely original story.

Source: Comingsoon.net