As of this writing, there have been seven live-action characteristic movies based mostly on Capcom’s widespread sequence of zombie-based video video games. The “Resident Evil” movies launched from 2002 to 2016 have been all a part of the identical (bugnuts loopy) continuity, following the state of the world after the discharge of a lethal mutagenic virus that may flip individuals into zombies, Hulk-like mutants, or vampires (?). The movie sequence was rebooted in 2021 with the discharge of Johannes Roberts’ “Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon Metropolis,” a movie that tried to re-insert horror components into a movie sequence that had gone off the rails. All of the whereas, Capcom saved releasing “Resident Evil” video video games. From 2002 to 2021, 20 video games (together with a number of spin-offs) have been launched for varied platforms. And that is not even together with the near-forgotten 2022 “Resident Evil” TV sequence that ran on Netflix for one season.
In 2026, the movie sequence will see a reboot once more, this time from “Barbarian” and “Weapons” director Zach Cregger. As of this writing, the meant launch date is September 18. Austin Abrams is ready to star, and also will characteristic Paul Walter Hauser. There is not but a correct title, however it will likely be a contemporary begin; Cregger’s movie won’t share a continuity with the pre-2016 movies, nor with “Welcome to Raccoon Metropolis.” Cregger can also be penning the script, as he solely needed to direct “Resident Evil” if he was additionally permitted to jot down it. In a current interview with Polygon, Cregger assured followers that he will probably be making his “Resident Evil” film extra intently resemble the video games than the earlier films. He will probably be modeling the story from the video games “Resident Evil 2” via “Resident Evil 4.”
In a fair newer interview with Fangoria Journal (performed by /Movie’s personal Ryan Scott), Cregger elucidated even additional, saying that his movie will not simply borrow story components from the Capcom video games, however will really be in the identical continuity as them. It should be a large, cross-media storytelling experiment this time.
The brand new Resident Evil film will share a continuity with the video games
The video games that Cregger refers to star the characters Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield, two put-upon souls who battle a zombie outbreak in Raccoon Metropolis. These characters are well-known amongst “Resident Evil” followers, and have loomed massive in a number of video games (Claire particularly). It appears that evidently Cregger could be very keen on the “Resident Evil 2” sport, however he did not simply need to do a straight adaptation of it. He has concepts of his personal. Ryan Scott requested Cregger, fairly pointedly, if his new film could be a separate journey that takes place concurrently throughout the universe of the video games. Cregger confirmed it will likely be certainly, saying, “Bullseye. Yeah.” He continued:
“I am not telling Leon’s story. You recognize what I imply? I am not utilizing any of the characters from the video games. I am telling my story that exists on the earth of ‘Resident Evil 2.’ You may play ‘2’ and by no means know that the occasions of my story are taking place proper over there, however they’re. I am following the principles, however I am not claiming any key, canon characters as a result of now we have these within the video games.”
Ryan Scott, only for the utmost readability, requested if the canon of the “Resident Evil” video games is identical because the film, and he mentioned that it was. It is as clear as day.
Though few have been beloved by critics, up to now, the “Resident Evil” films have principally been financially profitable. The extant seven films have earned a collective $1.28 billion on the field workplace, solely costing a collective $313 million to make. Cregger, whose “Weapons” was a vital darling and a large success on the 2025 field workplace, could have the clout and the expertise to lastly flip the “Resident Evil” movie sequence into one thing that critics love as a lot as audiences. Time will inform.
