The upcoming Resident Evil movie adaptation might be a departure from the franchise.
Weapons director Zach Cregger has teased more details from his upcoming Resident Evil movie adaptation. In an interview with Inverse, Cregger confirmed that the movie will tell “a different story” set in the games’ universe, featuring all-new characters.
This means that, much like Amazon Prime Video’s Fallout series, the movie will not be a direct adaptation of its source material. However, it will consider the events of the Resident Evil games canon nonetheless.
The next Resident Evil movie won’t be a straightforward adaptation
Hot off the critical acclaim of his recent horror outing Weapons, writer-director Zach Cregger is already preparing to take on his next project: an all-new movie adaptation of Capcom’s survival-horror franchise Resident Evil. The movie has not unveiled a cast list just yet, but Cregger will take on writing and directing duties when it starts filming later this year.
However, don’t expect yet another direct adaptation of the Resident Evil video games. In a recent interview, he noted that the film will tell “a different story” within the Resident Evil world. Cregger further elaborated:
“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.”
While the movie is "obedient to the lore of the games,” its story will be “outside of the characters of the games.” Thus, much like the Fallout series, it will consider the events of the games canon to its story–which means that Leon S. Kennedy’s adventures in Raccoon City might have already happened at the start of the film.
Cregger noted that “I’m not going to tell Leon’s story, because Leon’s story is told in the games. [Fans] already have that.” Fans might be disappointed that the upcoming movie won’t feature characters from the Resident Evil games, but Cregger shrugged that notion off: “They can play the game.”
The Resident Evil movie franchise has never featured straightforward adaptations of the game franchise, but the movies have featured iconic video game characters like Chris Redfield, Jill Valentine, and Leon S. Kennedy in various roles. Creatures like the Licker and Nemesis have also made appearances throughout the franchise.
Cregger’s reboot seems to take the form of other tie-in media like Fallout, by telling new stories without breaking established continuity.
The Resident Evil movie is set to hit theatres on 18 September, 2026. The next installment in the game franchise, Resident Evil Requiem, launches on 27 February, 2026.
