Zach Cregger Teases Bold ‘Resident Evil’ Movie That Ditches Leon and the Classics for a Completely New Story

In the dark alleys of Raccoon City, terror lurks around
every corner. The Resident Evil franchise has been a masterclass in survival
horror, pushing players and viewers to the edge of their seats. From the
creaking doors of the mansion to the zombie-infested streets, the series has
become synonymous with fear and suspense. As the shadows cast by the series
continue to grow, Zach Cregger is about to unfold a new chapter and ditch Leon
S. Kennedy.

Zach Cregger promises to breathe new life into the
franchise. What can one expect from this new installment, and how will it fit
into the Resident Evil legacy?

A twist in the Resident Evil legacy by Zach Cregger

Zach Cregger, the director of the upcoming Resident Evil
movie, is taking a bold new approach to the popular video game franchise,
promising a story that is completely original rather than a remake of any of
the games’ classic plots. In an interview with Inverse, Cregger emphasized that
his film will not follow the stories of well-known characters like Leon,
stating that fans “already have that” in the games themselves.

Instead, according to Inverse, Zach Cregger aims to create a
narrative that is “outside of the characters of the games,” a
move that marks a significant departure from previous adaptations that have
often attempted to retell or reinterpret existing storylines. Despite creating
a new story, Cregger reassured fans that his adaptation would remain faithful
to its established lore. With the script co-written by Shay Hatten and
production from a team that includes Constantin Film, PlayStation Productions,
and Vertigo Entertainment, Cregger is focused on delivering a fresh cinematic
experience that honors the spirit of Resident Evil while charting a new
and unexplored narrative path.

This new creative direction is a notable change, especially
when compared to the mixed reception of the franchise’s previous film
iterations.

The saga of The Resident Evil film series

The Resident Evil film series, led by Milla Jovovich
as Alice, spans six movies that were generally not well-received by critics but
were highly profitable at the box office. The original Resident Evil
(2002) holds a 36% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, while its sequels, Resident
Evil: Apocalypse (2004), Resident Evil: Extinction (2007), Resident
Evil: Afterlife (2010), and Resident Evil: Retribution (2012), all
earned even lower scores, ranging from 18% to 28%. The final installment in
this series, Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (2017), fared slightly
better with a 38% rating. Despite their consistently poor critical reception,
the franchise as a whole grossed over $1.2 billion, making it one of the most
commercially successful film series based on a video game.

A reboot of the franchise, Resident Evil: Welcome to
Raccoon City (2021), attempted to return to the horror roots of the
original games by focusing on a more faithful adaptation. However, the film
also struggled with critics, earning a 30% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. While it
was intended to be a fresh start, it was met with a lukewarm response from both
audiences and critics, failing to achieve the commercial success of the
previous films. This has set the stage for another reboot, which is reportedly
in development under director Zach Cregger, who has stated his goal is to create
a new story while staying true to the lore of the games. While Cregger continues to cook, viewers can watch other game adaptations until the new release.

What do you expect from the upcoming movie in the Resident Evil film series? Let us know in the comments below.