Despite the critical and commercial success of Resident Evil, Zach Cregger has revealed that something about the reboot left him frustrated.
Released on September 18, 2026, Resident Evil stars Austin Abrams as Bryan, a medical courier whose seemingly average delivery turns into a terrifying fight for survival. The movie received major praise from critics and casual moviegoers alike. The video game adaptation made around $400 million at the worldwide box office. However, its success hasn’t prevented Cregger from having some bones to pick when it comes to his movie.
The director, who previously helmed several critically acclaimed horror movies, such as Barbarian and Weapons, took a different approach when he adapted Capcom’s beloved video game franchise. Instead of recreating an existing storyline or focusing on established characters, Cregger developed an original story set within the world of the games with a brand-new protagonist.
During an interview on The Town podcast, Cregger discussed his experience working on a major franchise that already had a very well-established world and a strong following, as well as whether he would consider directing another adaptation. Although he didn’t completely rule out returning to Resident Evil, he admitted that he felt disappointed by how much attention was devoted to comparing elements from his film with its video game counterparts.
The director further elaborated, saying that so much of the discussion surrounding the movie had absolutely nothing to do with his version of the story itself. Most of it focused on whether his adaptation would satisfy the expectations of pre-existing fans of the video games, including criticisms about the lack of recognizable characters, established lore, and the changes made to the source material. He felt these arguments overshadowed the point of the movie, which was to make something different.
Cregger’s frustrations are understandable, and it also highlights one of the biggest challenges directors and writers face when adapting popular franchises across the board. With decades of history behind it, Resident Evil has developed iconic characters and storylines that have become synonymous with the property. As a result, fans of the source material often have very strong opinions about what should and shouldn’t be in a live-action adaptation.
Although Cregger’s response makes it seem like he is hesitant about making another film under the franchise, it doesn’t necessarily mean he has permanently closed the door on Resident Evil. The director has previously discussed having ideas for additional stories within the universe of the survival horror games. However, his latest comments imply that he is aware of the expectations and scrutiny that would come with another installment.
