After scoring original-concept hits with Barbarian and Weapons, some fans were surprised when writer/director Zach Cregger signed on to tackle Resident Evil. But don’t expect this to mark the beginning of a franchise-hopping phase for the filmmaker. Speaking with Deadline, Cregger made it clear that Resident Evil is a one-and-done exception.
Zach Cregger: “I’m Not Doing That”
“I have never been approached by another franchise,” Cregger said. “Maybe I have, but it would never get to me because I have been very clear that I’m not doing that. I’m doing this, and that’s it for me.“
He continued, “So I’m not going to go tackle any other franchises — just because I’m a writer, and I want to write whatever I want to write. I don’t want to write something where I have to make sure I’m tagging different data points to satisfy X. I just want to satisfy me. And the only reason that I think Resident Evil is OK for me to do is because I’m enthusiastic about the games and I like the story that I thought of with the games and I’m making it for me. I think this movie is cool, and I hope it checks the fan boxes because I’m a fan and I’m checking my boxes. I’m making the Resident Evil movie that I wish existed, so I can do that with a clean heart and a clear conscience and not feel like I’m getting f*cked by some weird industry thing.“
Although Cregger doesn’t seem keen to tackle any other franchise outside of Resident Evil, that doesn’t necessarily mean that a return to Raccoon City is out of the question. “I can’t help thinking about other places this story could go,” he told The Playlist. “I’ve got ideas, but this movie hasn’t even come out yet. Let’s see what happens.“
Resident Evil Receives Glowing Early Reactions
The film stars Austin Abrams as Bryan, “a medical courier who finds himself caught in the middle of a biohazard outbreak. What begins as a routine night quickly turns into a desperate fight for survival as he encounters the horrors unleashed by the outbreak.“
The film has received some very enthusiastic early reactions, or at least, the first thirty minutes have. Our own JimmyO was among a handful of critics to view the footage, and it’s safe to say he loved it.
“Just caught the first 30 minutes of Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil—and it’s absolutely fantastic. Moody, creepy, atmospheric, and genuinely funny,” he said. “Austin Abrams is incredible—funny, grounded, and makes you root for him instantly. His performance handles both the terror and the laughs with total perfection. Incredible casting choice.“
He added that this could finally be the movie that proves you can make a truly great horror video game movie.
Resident Evil will hit theaters on September 18.
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