PROJECT DETAILS:
Now that the trailer is out Zach Cregger recently spoke a bit more about what fans can expect from the movie, revealing that the story takes place during the events of Resident Evil 2, saying: "I feel like this movie takes place alongside the events of Resident Evil 2. I like to think that everything that's going on in the police station could be happening in this world. This is just another dude on another mission on the other side of town. So yeah, it's not canon in that I'm using the characters, but it's canon in that it lives in the actual day of reckoning in Raccoon City. This is the first night that the T-Virus has broken out." He goes on to talk about how the focus this time around is more on the weird creatures than zombies, saying: "This movie doesn't utilize zombies that much. It's much more focused on the weird creature stuff than the zombies. There's really only two scenes, maybe three, where there's proper zombie stuff going on. And two of those three are in the trailer. But other than that… I wouldn’t call this like a zombie movie. I just feel like, you have this opportunity for the T-Virus to do all these really fascinating things to the human body, and to the world around you, and so to just limit it to zombies feels like a squandered opportunity. So I tried to really vary it up." Specifically, he goes on to talk about the naked obese guy in the sewer... "I really love the idea of, you're moving through a sewer, no idea what's in front of you, and you come around a corner and see a gigantic, obese, naked, hairless man just sitting facing you. What is about to go down? What does go down, I am pretty happy with. Part of the inspiration for the look of this guy comes from Blood Meridian. So this is just my little nod to one of my favorite books. I don’t have a Nemesis in this movie. A gigantic, hulking terminator that's following you. But this is also a little bit of a nod to the Nemesis." Then he briefly talks about the multi-limbed creature in the doorway that's featured early in the trailer: "I don’t want to give too much away of whatever it is that's coming out of the door. But I will say that there's a mechanic I’ve put into this movie, it might be in some of the games, but it's a way the infected interact with each other. It's something that pursues him throughout the movie. I'm really excited for how this creature changes and evolves." (5/1/26)

Filmed in Prague.

Zach Cherry (Severance) is said to be playing a scientist at a hospital.

Kali Reis (True Detective) is an ex-military character that was originally written for a male actor.

Zach Cregger had a couple recent interviews where he talked briefly about the project. When speaking with Inverse he revealed that it'll be "a different story" set within the game's universe, which adds to the rumors that it'll follow a completely new character. He goes on to say the following: "Let me say this: this is not breaking the rules of the games. I am the biggest worshiper of the games, so I’m telling a story that is a love letter to the games and follows the rules of the games. It is obedient to the lore of the games, it’s just a different story. I’m not going to tell Leon’s story, because Leon’s story is told in the games. [Fans] already have that."

He reveals additional details in another interview, saying: "It’s gonna be not at all like Barbarian and Weapons. It’s going to be a rock ’em, sock ’em… it’s for me to play. And turn my brain off and just make an… Evil Dead 2… get crazy with the camera. Austin Abrams is gonna be my guy. It’s a weird, fun, wild story." Adding... "This movie follows a person from point A to point B. It’s like a real time journey, where you just go deeper and deeper into the depths of Hell. And it’s really a love letter to the games. Because I love those games. This is a story that I would’ve wanted to write whether I got the IP or not. I just happen to be able to have these Resident Evil people be down. So I get to play in that sandbox. I’m doing it because I think this movie is going to be fucking awesome. [...] I consider Resident Evil an original thing. And I think you will too when you see it." (8/11/25)

Zach Cregger offered some new details in the latest issue of SFX Magazine, revealing the following: "I am a gigantic Resident Evil game fan. I’ve played them all. I don’t know how many times I’ve just looped [RE4] again and again. I just love it. I’m definitely not trying to be completely obedient to the lore of the games. I’m trying to tell a story that just feels authentic to the experience you get when you play the games." Adding... "I don’t think I’m breaking any major rules, but I also recognise that no matter what I do, people are going to come for me online. So all I want to do is just make a really good movie and tell a story that’s compelling. I know that I’m gonna be happy with the movie, and hopefully other people will, too.  I will also say, I’ve never seen a movie like it. It doesn’t jump around like Weapons and Barbarian, but it is still unto itself." (7/14/25)

Zach Cregger recently revealed some details as to what fans can expect from the movie teasing that his movie is "unlike any of the previous films" and a "wild ride." He goes on to say the following: "There’s a moment that comes in every moment of every Resident Evil game where you find yourself standing in the mouth of a dark passageway. One shot in the gun is left. You know that something horrible is waiting for you in that darkness, that awful moment where you have to will yourself. That’s something that every Resident Evil game has perfected and has kept me and millions of other players returning to the series for decades. My movie will be built in the spirit of those games and follows one central protagonist from point A to point B, as they descend deeper into hell." (4/1/25)

Sony Pictures distributes in the US. President of Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group Sanford Panitch was quoted saying: "Zach is one of the most talented exciting new directors to come on the scene in many years. His brilliant approach in restarting and refreshing this legendary Sony franchise instantly makes this one of our most important releases in 2026."

Written/directed by Zach Cregger (Barbarian, Weapons).

Netflix debuted a Resident Evil series in 2022 to a slew of negative reviews from fans and critics. It was cancelled after one season.

The studio attempted a reboot in 2021 from writer/director Johannes Roberts (47 Meters Down), which would go on to bring in double its budget at the box office, despite mostly negative reviews.

Actress Milla Jovovich starred in six live-action Resident Evil movies, from 2002 to 2016.

This is said to be a "reboot" of the Resident Evil franchise that "harkens back to the original Capcom game’s horror roots."