From Weapons to Raccoon City: Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil Reboot Gets Gritty First Look
The Resident Evil franchise is returning to the big screen, and this time, the reboot is helmed by Zach Cregger—the director of last year’s critically acclaimed horror hit, Weapons.
Resident Evil is scheduled to hit theaters in North America on September 18, 2026. Directed by Zach Cregger (Weapons), who also co-wrote the script with Shay Hatten (John Wick franchise), the film features sequences captured with IMAX-certified digital cameras. The cast includes Austin Abrams (Weapons), Emmy winner Paul Walter Hauser (Black Bird), Zach Cherry (Severance), and Kali Reis (True Detective: Night Country). This reboot aims to provide a grittier and more faithful adaptation of the iconic video game series than previous cinematic attempts. Resident Evil follows Bryan (Austin Abrams), a medical courier who unwittingly finds himself in an action-packed, non-stop race for survival as one fateful, horrifying night collapses around him in chaos.
Zach Cregger is currently one of Hollywood’s most sought-after horror directors. His previous film, Weapons, was a massive success last summer, grossing approximately $270 million worldwide on a budget of just $40 million. Beyond its commercial success, the film earned widespread critical praise, culminating in an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for Amy Madigan’s performance as Aunt Gladys. Cregger is reportedly developing a Weapons prequel centered on the Aunt Gladys character, slated for release in September 2028, though he is not expected to direct as he focuses on his upcoming sci-fi project, The Flood. Additionally, Cregger has spoken about a passion project titled Henchmen, a script set within the DC Universe's Gotham City. The story follows a low-level crook who accidentally manages to incapacitate Batman, gaining instant notoriety. Given Cregger’s current track record and his home at Warner Bros., many fans are hopeful that DC Studios will officially greenlight the project.
The Resident Evil gaming franchise, which debuted in 1996, remains one of the most influential series in gaming history. While the original six-film series starring Milla Jovovich was a box office success, it was often criticized by fans and critics alike for straying too far from the source material. Subsequent reboots, including 2021's Welcome to Raccoon City and a 2022 Netflix series, also struggled to find their footing. This new vision from Cregger is part of a larger wave of major video game adaptations currently in development, including a live-action Elden Ring movie, and series for Far Cry, Assassin’s Creed, God of War, and Baldur’s Gate.
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Photo and Source: Sony Pictures