The world of Resident Evil is headed back to the big screen, but this time, it’s taking a detour from one of its most beloved heroes. Weapons director Zach Cregger has confirmed that his upcoming film won’t follow the familiar path of a fan-favorite character from the video games, and this might excite or frustrate some fans.
Back in January 2025, news broke that Cregger was attached to write and direct a live-action Resident Evil reboot aiming to return the horror action movie franchise to its survival-horror roots. This upcoming film and the rest of the movie franchise are based on the hugely popular video game series of the same name by Capcom, which first launched in 1996 and has since become a cornerstone of the survival-horror genre.
The latest movie in the film series was the 2021 action horror Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City, which centered around video game characters Claire Redfield and Chris Redfield as they uncover the dark secrets behind the sinister Umbrella Corporation and the outbreak that devastates their hometown.
In a new interview with Inverse, Cregger states that he’s not adapting any specific game plot for his new take. He even goes as far as to specifically mention that he won't be retelling any existing game character's story, such as Leon S. Kennedy. Instead, he tells Inverse that he's crafting an original tale set within the Resident Evil universe that honors the franchise’s lore. So, it'll basically be similar to the first six films in the movie franchise, which followed Alice, a brand-new character that wasn't from the games.
“It is obedient to the lore of the games, it’s just a different story. I’m not going to tell Leon’s story, because Leon’s story is told in the games. [Fans] already have that.”
Video game fans will recognize Leon as one of the franchise’s most iconic protagonists. He was introduced in the second video game Resident Evil 2 as a rookie cop who finds himself thrust into a nightmarish outbreak in Raccoon City. The character would then go on to appear in many other Resident Evil games.
Some fans might not be okay with Cregger's new take since for years many have asked for a faithful, game-accurate adaptation featuring legacy characters like Leon and Jill Valentine. Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City featured these game characters, but fans would've liked to see a deeper, more authentic exploration of their stories. Unfortunately, it looks like they'll have to wait a bit longer as Cregger’s reboot is focused on delivering an original narrative rather than revisiting the familiar journeys of those beloved characters.
As more information about Cregger's new Resident Evil movie comes out, you'll be the first to know. So, make sure to stay tuned to Winter is Coming!