Sony’s latest reboot is “Resident Evil,” this time in the hands of “Barbarian” and “Weapons” director Zach Cregger — one of the few new horror voices bold enough to tackle a franchise that’s been mishandled more often than not.
In a recent interview with SFX Magazine, Cregger emphasized that while he’s a lifelong fan of the games, his priority isn’t fan service — it’s storytelling.
“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,” Cregger said. “I’m trying to tell a story that just feels authentic to the experience you get when you play the games. I don’t think I’m breaking any major rules, but I also recognize that no matter what I do, people are going to come for me online.”
It’s a fair point. The Resident Evil fanbase is notoriously vocal about fidelity to the source material. But rather than play it safe, Cregger is pushing for something more personal and atmospheric.
“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.”
That vision appears to include original characters not found in the games. According to a new report from DanielRPK, rising star Austin Abrams (“Wolfs,” “Euphoria”) will be playing “Brian,” an entirely new character created for the film.
The report adds that Cregger’s movie is NOT a “faithful adaptation of the games,” doubling down on the idea that Cregger is using the source material more as a tonal guide than a narrative blueprint.
Considering how quickly the previous “Resident Evil” reboot and Netflix show disappeared from the pop culture radar, the bar is low. But with Cregger’s eye for dread and structure, and a willingness to rewrite the formula, this could be the version that finally works.