Fresh off the critical and commercial success of “Weapons,” writer-director Zach Cregger is currently shooting his “Resident Evil” reboot in Prague. Austin Abrams has the lead role in that one, but we finally have more casting to report.
Sources tell Deadline that Paul Walter Hauser has joined the cast alongside Abrams. As far as we know, they are the only two actors to have been officially announced so far.
I’m a big fan of Hauser’s. He’s a welcome presence in any movie he appears in. Highlights from his filmography include “Richard Jewell,” “I, Tonya,” and “BlacKkKlansman.” He was recently seen in this past summer’s “Naked Gun” reboot.
For Hauser, “Resident Evil” may actually be followed by Josh Gad’s long-gestating Chris Farley biopic, in which he is set to play the late comedian. The project, which has been in development for years, is currently expected to begin filming in early 2026. If it moves forward on schedule, it could mark one of Hauser’s most high-profile leading roles to date.
If Hauser’s résumé wasn’t impressive enough, acting isn’t Hauser’s only pursuit. He’s also a professional wrestler. He has toured the independent circuit and AEW, where his signature move is a Karate Kid-style crane kick.
Cregger is co-writing the “Resident Evil” script with Shay Hatten (“Army of the Dead”), and early rumors suggest the story will return to the franchise’s horror roots, centering on a down-on-his-luck courier caught in the middle of a viral apocalypse while delivering a package to a remote hospital. Austin Abrams has the lead role.
This new “Resident Evil” movie follows Paul W.S. Anderson’s six installments. Altogether, the seven films — all critically panned at the time — grossed over $1.2 billion worldwide. It’s time to revitalize the zombie genre, and there may be no better director right now to make it happen.
Cregger’s take, coming from Sony, is scheduled for a theatrical release on September 18, 2026.
Still no distributor for "Bucking Fastard," "Alpha Gang," "The Last Photograph," "Closing Night," and "The Life and Deaths of Wilson Shedd." The issue seems to be quality more than a lack of willingness to buy.