Zach Cregger Teases 2026 Resident Evil Movie with Game-Like Descent Into Hell — Filming in Prague
Zach Cregger, director of Barbarian and Weapons, has been sharing details about his new Resident Evil movie, which begins filming next month and is scheduled to hit theaters on Sept. 18, 2026. He says the film will be an original take that “takes place in the world of the games” and will follow a pacing similar to the games’ structure, while also admitting he hasn’t watched the previous live-action Resident Evil films.
- Cregger describes the movie as an original story set in the games’ world.
- He says the film follows a single protagonist on a descent “deeper and deeper and deeper into Hell.”
- Filming starts next month in Prague, and the release date is Sept. 18, 2026.
- Cregger claims he has not seen the earlier Resident Evil live-action movies.
What he said in the interview
Cregger discussed the project during an interview on the Double Toasted podcast. He explained how he envisions the film’s pacing and structure, and how that links to the player experience in the games.
About the film’s relationship to the games, Cregger said: “It takes place in the world of the games. But most importantly, the journey you’ll have as a viewer of watching this movie is going to be similar to the journey you have as a player when you play these games. And what that means is it follows one protagonist from point A to point B as they just descend deeper and deeper and deeper into Hell.”
Setting, tone, and influences
Story-wise, Cregger says the movie is not directly based on any single game. Instead, it will be an original story that uses the franchise’s flexible world and shifting tones. He noted the film “probably lives more in the world of [Resident Evil] 2 and 3, but I’d say it adheres more to the tone of 4.”
He also framed the series itself as adaptable across locations and subgenres, adding that the film “feels inline with my sensibility, has my sense of tone, and it’s just a much bigger scale than Weapons and certainly Barbarian.”
Fan expectations and creative choices
Cregger said he thinks “fans of the games are probably going to be stoked” for his approach. Additionally, he defended his adaptation choices by pointing to the games’ variety: “I don’t think I’m taking any more liberties with this [movie] than the game franchise does at all,” and, “I’m coloring within the lines.”
Production timeline and related releases
Production is set to begin next month in Prague. The film will be an original story, yet Cregger insists it follows the games’ pacing and structure. Meanwhile, Capcom plans to release the next Resident Evil game, Resident Evil Requiem, early next year.
The movie is slated to arrive in theaters on Sept. 18, 2026.
