The upcoming Resident Evil film, helmed by Zach Cregger, director of "Weapons" and "Barbarian," centers on a protagonist Cregger describes as an "idiot" in a narrative arc that he likens to "The Lord of the Rings." Speaking with Empire, Cregger elaborated that the character, Bryan, portrayed by Austin Abrams, is a medical courier who becomes entangled in a perilous and horrifying adventure. "The concept here is that we’re following an idiot,” Cregger stated. “Not that he’s stupid, but he’s not your typical game character, with no combat skills whatsoever and completely inept at survival. Bryan is very much an everyman who happens to be burdened with this kind of sacred mission that’s going to take him into the heart of everything. It’s kind of like Frodo going into Mordor.”
Cregger further explained that the entire movie functions as "one gigantic sequence," with action commencing approximately five minutes into the runtime and escalating from there. He noted a direct influence from the video game series in the film's pacing, stating, "What I love about the games is that you move from set-piece to set-piece. Every location has a unique challenge. So again, I’m borrowing from the games directly in that rhythm, where you’re just running through a gauntlet."
While the film does not adhere to the plot of any specific Resident Evil game or feature its established characters, a decision that has drawn some criticism, Cregger asserts his deep admiration for the games. He aims to capture the overall tone of the source material while injecting his personal directorial vision. "It’s really a Zach Cregger movie that just happens to be a Resident Evil movie," he commented. Reports indicate that Cregger was granted considerable creative freedom to reimagine the film franchise. The Resident Evil movie is scheduled for release on September 18. Another video game adaptation, a Street Fighter movie, is slated for October 16.