Zach Cregg, the director of the upcoming live-action Resident Evil movie set to release on September 18, recently revealed that this will be his final IP adaptation. Cregg, who gained fame with the 2025 horror film #Funtime, stated that he prefers to return to original creations in the future, enjoying the freedom to "write whatever I want."
In an interview, Cregg explained that being constrained by existing IP settings and plot frameworks is not his preferred way of working. "I don't want to write to satisfy certain data points; I just want to satisfy myself." He admitted that whether it was his previous work Barbarian or the Oscar-winning #Funtime, he enjoyed complete creative autonomy without corporate constraints.
Despite this, Cregg emphasized that he will still fully complete this Resident Evil movie. He stated, "I think this movie is cool, and I hope it meets fans' expectations, because I am a fan myself, and I am making a Resident Evil movie that I wish existed."
Cregg's remarks are not surprising to followers—since the project's announcement, his adaptation direction has been heavily criticized by fans. The film does not use classic game characters like Leon Kennedy or Claire Redfield, but instead creates a new protagonist named Brian, telling the story of how he accidentally gets involved in the Raccoon City outbreak while transporting transplant organs. Although the director added some Easter eggs, the main storyline is almost independent of existing works.
Previously, in an interview with IGN, Cregg admitted he was "too naive," originally thinking fans would be excited about a popular horror director taking over the series. However, almost every detail, from character design and casting to the absence of classic monsters, faced strong skepticism from fans. He even described his promotional campaign as an "apology tour" and urged audiences to watch the film before making judgments.
Cregg's version is not the first time Resident Evil has hit the big screen. The six-film series starring Milla Jovovich, released since the early 2000s, also deviated significantly from the original games, creating a new protagonist, Alice, and grossing over $1.2 billion worldwide. The 2021 reboot, Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City, attempted to blend the plots of the first and second games but suffered from poor box office performance and mediocre reviews. The Netflix series launched in 2022 was also criticized by fans for focusing too much on family drama and was canceled after only one season.
