Horror filmmaker Zach Cregger, best known for Barbarian and the upcoming thriller Weapons, is officially stepping into Capcom’s legendary horror universe. Cregger is set to direct a new Resident Evil film for Sony’s Columbia Pictures, Constantin Film, and PlayStation Productions, but unlike past adaptations, this one won’t be a remake. Instead, it will tell a completely original story set within the established lore of the games.
Entertainment Weekly reports that the project is already in production in the Czech Republic, with scenes being filmed in Litoměřice and Prague, utilizing the country’s historic tunnels and abandoned industrial areas to recreate the eerie, decaying atmosphere the franchise is known for.
Cregger emphasized that his version won’t rely on iconic protagonists like Leon S. Kennedy or Jill Valentine, explaining: “I’m not going to steal Leon and put him in an original story. That would be presumptuous. Everything fans love about Resident Evil will stay intact, we’re just exploring a new corner of that world.”
The film follows Austin Abrams (Euphoria, Weapons) as a courier tasked with delivering an experimental antidote amid a citywide viral outbreak, hinting at a smaller, more character-driven narrative than past installments. Paul Walter Hauser (Black Bird, Cruella) joins in a key supporting role, alongside Zach Cherry (Severance), Kali Reis, and Johnno Wilson.
Cregger co-wrote the screenplay with Shay Hatten, known for his work on John Wick: Chapter 4 and Rebel Moon. The film’s visuals are being shaped by veteran cinematographer Dariusz Wolski (The Martian, Pirates of the Caribbean), and the production team includes Roy Lee and Miri Yoon, who also worked with Cregger on Weapons.
According to The Prague Reporter, principal photography began in February 2025 and will continue into early 2026. The film has received CZK 191 million (about US $9 million) in incentives from the Czech Film Fund, with an estimated total production budget of US $36 million, making it one of the largest international genre productions shooting in the region this year.
Resident Evil is scheduled for theatrical release on September 18, 2026, via Sony Pictures and Columbia Pictures. With Cregger at the helm and a fresh narrative angle, fans and horror enthusiasts alike are eager to see how this new vision will redefine one of gaming’s most iconic and terrifying worlds.
