The director of the new Resident Evil film has repeatedly expressed his admiration for Resident Evil 4. This title served as the primary source of inspiration, laying the foundation for the film's core concept, although audiences will experience an entirely new story and characters. Although Zach Cregg had previously defended his decision to use original characters, it now appears he has realized that Leon should have been included in the film at the very least.
In an interview with IGN, the director admitted that he overestimated the gaming community's acceptance of replacing the series' iconic characters with original protagonists: "I think I was too naive. I thought gamers, people like me, would be happy that someone was finally making a true survival horror film based on Resident Evil. I didn't fully grasp the power of the belief that 'we've been waiting for Leon's story our entire lives.' I understand that now, and I apologize for not telling that story in my film. I completely understand the players' disappointment, because back in the day, I also avoided the earlier Resident Evil films precisely because they weren't like the Resident Evil game I loved."
Cregg emphasized that his project was created out of genuine love for the original work. The director still hopes that even skeptical viewers will appreciate the meticulous attention to detail from the classic video games in this film.
The events of the film unfold concurrently with the disaster depicted in Resident Evil 2. The protagonist is Brian, a medical courier played by Austin Abrams, who finds himself at the heart of the Raccoon City catastrophe. According to the director, the film focuses on personal survival experiences: the protagonist must stealthily evade Lickers, conserve shotgun ammunition, search for keys to locked padlocks, and seek refuge in safe rooms equipped with typewriters. The new Resident Evil film is scheduled for theatrical release on September 18, 2026.