Weapons director Zach Cregger has verified that his forthcoming Resident Evil reboot will not include any of the franchise’s iconic characters. Rather, the film will present new characters and narratives within the same gaming universe. Cregger, an admirer of the Resident Evil games, clarified in an Inverse interview that fans can engage with the stories of characters such as Leon, Jill, Chris, or Claire by playing the games directly. His film aspires to honor the lore of the games while providing a novel storyline.

Cregger, recognized for his critically lauded films Barbarian and Weapons, is poised to write and direct the new Resident Evil movie. Fans are optimistic that his participation will yield similar critical acclaim for the franchise. He underscored that his film is a tribute to the games, following their principles and lore without rehashing existing narratives.

Constantin Film, which has maintained the screen rights to Resident Evil since the 1990s, will collaborate with PlayStation Productions to produce the reboot. The film is set to premiere on September 18, 2026, in line with the 30th anniversary of Capcom’s Resident Evil games. This signifies the second effort to reboot the film series, succeeding the 2021 film Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City, which faced a lackluster reception.

Cregger’s strategy may take cues from other video game adaptations such as the 2021 Mortal Kombat film, which presented a new primary character while incorporating game figures. The Resident Evil universe has adeptly grown beyond its legendary characters, as shown by the inclusion of Ethan Winters in the games. Cregger’s film could pursue a comparable route, delivering a new viewpoint within the cherished franchise.