Director Zach Cregger, the creative force behind this month’s highly anticipated survival horror adaptation, Resident Evil movie”>Resident Evil, is drawing a firm line in the sand. Despite the buzz surrounding his take on Capcom’s iconic franchise, don’t expect him to jump into another big-budget, IP-driven film anytime soon.
Creative Control is King
In a recent conversation with Deadline”>Deadline, Cregger discussed his future plans and addressed the inevitable question of whether he’s been approached to helm other major franchise films. His answer was blunt: “I’m not doing that.”
“I have never been approached by another franchise,” Cregger stated. “Maybe I have, but it would never get to me because I have been very clear that I’m not doing that. I’m doing this, and that’s it for me.”
The Backlash Factor?
One might speculate that Cregger’s aversion to big franchise films stems from the considerable backlash he’s faced in the months leading up to Resident Evil movie”>Resident Evil’s premiere. While the director, known for his work on Barbarian”>Barbarian and Weapons”>Weapons, certainly has a dedicated fanbase eager to see his fresh take, many others have expressed reservations.
Much of the criticism revolves around changes made to the source material. The film’s modern setting and snowy Raccoon City”>modern setting and deviation from established lore have ruffled feathers, while some fans are disappointed by the decision to follow a new protagonist (Austin Abrams’ Bryan Hodukavich) instead of iconic characters like Leon S. Kennedy or Claire Redfield.
A Writer’s Vision
The controversy surrounding the Resident Evil movie”>Resident Evil film has been significant, but Cregger clarified that his decision to step away from franchise work boils down to his desire for creative freedom as a writer. He wants “to write whatever I want to write.”
“I don’t want to write something where I have to make sure I’m tagging different data points to satisfy X,” he explained. “I just want to satisfy me. And the only reason that I think Resident Evil is OK for me to do is because I’m enthusiastic about the games and I like the story that I thought of with the games and I’m making it for me. I think this movie is cool, and I hope it checks the fan boxes because I’m a fan and I’m checking my boxes.”
“I’m making the Resident Evil movie”>Resident Evil movie that I wish existed, so I can do that with a clean heart and a clear conscience and not feel like I’m getting fked by some weird industry thing.”
A Love Letter to Gaming
Cregger has made it abundantly clear that his Resident Evil movie”>Resident Evil film is intended as a love letter to the experience of playing games like Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil 7″>Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil 7, rather than a direct retelling of any single story. While he’s ruling out future franchise films, another trip to Raccoon City – or perhaps even somewhere else in the Resident Evil universe”>Resident Evil universe – isn’t entirely off the table. In a previous interview, the director revealed that he already has “ideas” for a sequel, although we haven’t yet seen how audiences will react to the first film.
The Resident Evil movie”>Resident Evil film is slated for release on September 18, 2026. Cregger has several other projects in development, including the Siren Head movie”>Siren Head movie, The Flood”>The Flood, and a Weapons prequel movie”>Weapons prequel movie. While we await Cregger’s new vision for Raccoon City, you can check out a new trailer that revealed a sneak peek at a creature that looks suspiciously like RE4’s Las Plagas”>a new trailer that revealed a sneak peek at a creature that looks suspiciously like RE4’s Las Plagas. You can also check out its organ transplant bag-inspired popcorn bucket”>its organ transplant bag-inspired popcorn bucket.
Photo by JC Olivera/Sony Pictures via Getty Images.
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