Image: Capcom
The reboot will be directed by horror filmmaker Zach Cregger.
Sony Pictures is reviving the Resident Evil franchise with a new film directed by Barbarian filmmaker Zach Cregger. The highly anticipated reboot is scheduled for a theatrical release on 18 September, 2026 and will reportedly return to the horror roots of Capcom’s iconic survival horror games.
“I’ve been a rabid fan of these games for decades,” Cregger said in an interview with Deadline. “And to be able to bring this amazing title to life is a true honour.”
Returning to Horror
Sony has retained the Resident Evil film rights despite reported interest from Warner Bros. Pictures. The franchise, which has grossed over US $1.27 billion worldwide, is one of the most successful video game adaptations in history. Previous films include six entries directed by Paul W.S. Anderson, starring Milla Jovovich, with Resident Evil: The Final Chapter gaining the highest gross income of US $314.1 million.
While the previous Resident Evil films achieved commercial success, they often polarised gamers for deviating from the games too much, by adding new characters such as Alice (Jovovich) and sidelining established game protagonists like Chris Redfield, Leon S. Kennedy, and Jill Valentine.
As such, many felt that movies did not faithfully represent the game’s narrative. On top of that, the series was often criticised for having a heavy emphasis on action sequences rather than horror elements, and storytelling that was said to be inconsistent. Entries like Resident Evil: Apocalypse faced criticism for convoluted plots and a lack of coherence—earning an 18% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
A 2021 movie reboot named Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City wasn’t received well by fans as well, with many criticising how the portrayal of Leon S. Kennedy deviated from his more competent in-game persona, earning a “generally unfavourable" user score on Metacritic.
Cregger is co-writing the screenplay with Shay Hatten (Ballerina, John Wick: Chapters 3 & 4), though plot details remain under wraps. The project is being produced and con-financed by Constantin Film, with Robert Kulzer, Vertigo Entertainment’s Roy Lee (Barbarian, Minecraft), Miri Yoon (Woman of the Hour, Weapons), and PlayStation Productions also involved as producers.
Sanford Panitch, President of Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group, expressed confidence in Cregger’s vision for the reboot. “Zach is one of the most talented, exciting new directors to come on the scene in many years," Panitch said. “His brilliant approach in restarting and refreshing this legendary Sony Franchise instantly makes this one of our most important releases in 2026,” he added.
Cregger gained widespread recognition after his 2022 horror film Barbarian became a critical and commercial success. He is also writing, directing, and producing Weapons, starring Julia Garner and Josh Brolin under Warner Bros. Pictures.
Nicole Brown will oversee the latest Resident Evil iteration for Sony’s Columbia Pictures. With its return to a darker horror tone and a fresh creative team, the upcoming reboot aims to re-establish the franchise for a new generation of audiences.
