Since making his feature-length directorial debut in 2022 with his standout hit, Barbarian, Zach Cregger has been one of the most promising names in horror. Over the summer, his follow-up, Weapons, exceeded box office expectations and pushed Amy Madigan to become a front-runner in the award season chatter. Next, he’ll work alongside Columbia Pictures to bring a new story from the Resident Evil video game series to the big screen. Putting his own twist on the franchise, Cregger will use the universe as a foundation for his project, but will create different characters in an original story that he co-penned alongside Shay Hatten. With a release date slated for September 18 of this year, the next few months will bring plenty of fresh information about what to expect from Cregger’s Resident Evil flick, but thanks to one of the film’s stars, Kali Reis, we have a promising update about how it will all shake out. During a recent interview with Collider’s Steve Weintraub ahead of the arrival of the True Detective: Night Country star’s film, Mercy, Reis teased the “clear vision” that Cregger is using to drive the cinematic adaptation forward. “Zach is a master,” Reis says, “He knows exactly what he wants. He has a clear vision. He’s very clear on what he wants from the cameras, from the actors, from the atmosphere, from everything. And he’s a pleasure to work with.” The actress’ sentiments have been echoed by others who have worked with Cregger in the past, including Madigan, who played the eccentric Aunt Gladys in Weapons. When it comes to how the Resident Evil film is shaping up as a new chapter in the world riddled with adaptations that received mixed reactions, Reis has one message for fans: “You’re going to be very pleased.” A day-one lover of the video games, Reis says, “I will say, being a Resident Evil fan and being a gamer since the first one, he took a crack at another origin story, and — I obviously haven’t even seen it, but I’ve been involved in it — the script is amazing. You’re going to be very pleased.”
Zach Cregger’s Unique Vision and Technical Know-How Will Shine in ‘Resident Evil’

As those who have seen Barbarian and Weapons will know, Cregger’s camera work is impeccable — just look at the last, iconic scene in Weapons. Praising the director for his creative vision, Reis added, “But his camera work puts the cherry on top of the story that he’s telling with this, especially in this genre of a video-game-turned-movie, and movies that have already been done. I think you’re going to be very pleased.”

Resident Evil will arrive in cinemas on September 18, 2026.

Release Date

September 18, 2026

Director

Zach Cregger

Writers

Zach Cregger, Shay Hatten