Director Zach Cregger, who is helming one of the most anticipated video game adaptations of 2026 with Resident Evil, has stated that he will not direct another franchise film after this project. Cregger told Deadline that his involvement with Resident Evil is a singular commitment to the genre, emphasizing his intention to "write whatever I want to write" moving forward.
Cregger explained his reluctance to engage with existing franchises stems from a desire to avoid the constraints of adhering to established lore and history. "I don’t want to write something where I have to make sure I’m tagging different data points to satisfy X. I just want to satisfy me," he said.
His decision to work on Resident Evil was driven by his personal fandom of the games and his conception of an original story within that universe. "I think this movie is cool, and I hope it checks the fan boxes because I’m a fan and I’m checking my boxes. I’m making the Resident Evil movie that I wish existed, so I can do that with a clean heart and a clear conscience," Cregger stated.
He also clarified previous comments regarding the originality of his Resident Evil narrative, distinguishing it from simply attaching the franchise's name to a pre-existing story. "What I mean is it’s an original story, but it’s still a Resident Evil story. I’m not taking a story from the games; that’s what that means," he clarified.
Financial incentives may have also played a role, with reports indicating Cregger received a $20 million payment for his work. Despite his decision regarding franchise films, Cregger is attached to co-write the upcoming Siren Head movie and is set to direct The Flood, a science fiction film set in deep space. The Resident Evil film is scheduled for a September 18 release and is projected to achieve the highest opening weekend for any film in the series.