Cregger Directs Resident Evil, Never Seen the Films — SkimNews
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- Zach Cregger is directing a new Resident Evil movie, his third feature as solo writer-director and the eighth live-action film in the franchise, conceived from the start as a Resident Evil story rather than an original script rebranded with the IP.
- Cregger acknowledged he has never seen any of the prior Resident Evil films, a stance that has drawn criticism from obsessive gamers since the first teaser trailer launched in April; he called the franchise's film reputation 'distinctly mid,' noting the highest Rotten Tomatoes score in the series is 39% for The Final Chapter.
- The film follows medical courier Bryan (Austin Abrams) attempting to deliver a transplant organ near Raccoon City, Colorado, during a zombie outbreak — structured around over-the-shoulder camera angles and disjointed profanity-laced dialogue to mimic a 90-minute PlayStation session.
- Cregger shot the film in rural Czechia, where he contracted pneumonia during the first half of production and a bacterial infection during the second half, describing the shoot as 'dark,' 'cold,' and 'unrelenting.'
- Cregger's two prior films established his horror credentials: Barbarian (2022) grossed $46 million, while Weapons (2025) won an Academy Award for Amy Madigan's supporting turn as villain Aunt Gladys after a bidding war reportedly saw Jordan Peele fire his managers over losing the rights.
- Cregger wrote screenplays for Weapons, Resident Evil, and a planned sci-fi film called The Flood in quick succession during the bereavement following the 2022 accidental death of his Whitest Kids U'Know co-founder Trevor Moore.
Why it matters: Cregger's track record — a $46M debut, an Oscar-winning second feature, and viral pre-release hype — gives him unusual leverage to reimagine a franchise whose seven prior films peaked at 39% on Rotten Tomatoes; his decision to design the movie as a playable simulation for newcomers signals a deliberate break from Resident Evil's established film formula.
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