Zach Cregger frames new Resident Evil film as a ‘Frodo‑like’ journey for ordinary hero

Director Zach Cregger said his upcoming Resident Evil movie will follow an ordinary character, Bryan (played by Austin Abrams), on a peril‑filled trek comparable to Frodo’s journey to Mordor. Cregger emphasized that the film deliberately avoids franchise staples such as Leon S. Kennedy or Claire Redfield, instead presenting a re‑imagined Raccoon City overrun by an Umbrella‑created zombie virus.

He described the movie as “a gigantic sequence” that erupts into nonstop action after the first five minutes and maintains a rapid‑fire rhythm throughout. The director likened the experience to moving from one intense set‑piece to the next, mirroring video‑game pacing. The film is scheduled to open in theaters on 18 September 2026.