The Resident Evil franchise refuses to stay buried. Just over three years after Welcome to Raccoon City, another reboot is officially in development, this time under the direction of Zach Cregger, the filmmaker behind the critically acclaimed horror film Barbarian.
A New Beginning for Resident Evil
Much like the hordes of the undead that haunt Raccoon City’s streets, underground labs, and eerie mansions, the Resident Evil film series just won’t stay down. Even after multiple adaptations—each with varying degrees of success—a new film is now in the works.
The last attempt, Johannes Roberts’ 2021 reboot, was a more faithful adaptation of the games than Paul W.S. Anderson’s action-packed saga. However, it failed to gain real traction at the box office, pulling in only $41 million worldwide against a $25 million budget. The film’s post-credit tease—introducing Ada Wong (played by Lily Gao)—was left hanging as plans for a sequel were abandoned.
Now, the franchise is getting another fresh start, this time with a director who knows horror inside and out.
Zach Cregger Takes Over—And the Industry Is Watching
Cregger might not have been the most obvious choice for a Resident Evil reboot, but the industry is already buzzing about his involvement. The Hollywood Reporter recently revealed that four major studios, including Warner Bros. and Netflix, are in a bidding war to secure the rights to the new film.
Why the hype? It all comes down to Cregger’s breakout hit, Barbarian. The film, which landed on Disney+ in 2022, quickly became a horror favorite. While it didn’t feature zombies, its claustrophobic tension, nightmarish twists, and descent into horror share DNA with Resident Evil. Much like the classic Capcom games, Barbarian begins in an ordinary setting—a simple rental home—before unraveling into something far more sinister and unpredictable.
This kind of slow-burning terror, where every new revelation leads to something worse than before, is exactly what Resident Evil fans have been craving in a film adaptation.
A Return to the Franchise’s Horror Roots
Early reports suggest that this reboot will aim to bring back the franchise’s survival horror essence and stay closer to the original games. But which era of Resident Evil will it follow?
- Will it faithfully adapt the first two games, which defined the survival horror genre?
- Could it take inspiration from Resident Evil 4, which balanced horror with action and revolutionized the series?
- Or will it lean into the Southern Gothic horror of RE7 or the folk horror of RE Village?
If the film truly intends to return to the franchise’s roots, then a faithful adaptation of the original game seems most likely. Fans have long hoped for a film that captures the eerie atmosphere of the Spencer Mansion, the haunting isolation, and the constant tension that made the first game a legend.
No Release Date Yet, but Plenty of Potential
While no official release date has been announced, this reboot could mark the beginning of a new cinematic era for Resident Evil. The game franchise boasts over ten main entries, ensuring that there’s plenty of material to explore in future films.
In the meantime, fans can catch Zach Cregger’s next project, Companion, on January 29, followed by his highly anticipated horror-thriller Weapons, starring Julia Garner and Josh Brolin, set for January 14, 2026.
Could this finally be the faithful Resident Evil adaptation that fans have been waiting for? Time will tell—but with Cregger at the helm, there’s real reason to be excited.
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A passionate journalist, Iris Lennox covers social and cultural news across the U.S.