Director Zach Cregger has responded to criticism surrounding the upcoming Resident Evil film, admitting he was "naive" to believe fans would readily accept an original story concept instead of one directly from the games. Cregger, who previously directed Barbarian and Weapons, explained that he initially assumed fans of the franchise would be excited about a survival horror take on the property. "I thought fans of these games, like me, would be thrilled that somebody was coming along and turning Resident Evil into a survival horror movie," he told IGN. "I was like, ‘That’s great.’ I did not really appreciate the sentiment that, ‘We’ve been waiting forever for Leon’s story.’"
Cregger expressed understanding for the frustration of fans who desired a narrative more closely aligned with established game lore, particularly Leon S. Kennedy's story. He drew a parallel to his own feelings about earlier Resident Evil movies that did not resonate with his personal connection to the games. "I understand the frustration," he said, "because I haven’t seen the earlier [Resident Evil] movies, because they don’t look like the Resident Evil that I love, so how could I be frustrated with fans who have that same attitude?"
Despite the skepticism, Cregger hopes that game fans will watch his film and feel a connection to the material. He stated that the movie is not simply a generic story branded with the Resident Evil name for budgetary reasons, but rather a "Resident Evil story" crafted with genuine affection for the source material. "This is not me just telling a story and slapping Resident Evil on it so I can get a budget. This is me telling a Resident Evil story. I understand the resistance, I do, because I have it myself. It is coming from a true place of love," he explained.
In an interview with The Playlist, Cregger described the film's promotional tour as feeling akin to an "apology tour" due to the negative fan sentiment. He likened the experience to campaigning for office and attempting to dissuade detractors. "Now, I’m just like, 'You know what? See the movie. If you still feel the same way after you’ve seen it, then whatever you think is fair. You’re going to decide if I’m an actual Resident Evil fan or a fake. What can I say? I think the movie is going to speak for itself," he added.
Looking ahead, Cregger indicated that he has "ideas" for potential future Resident Evil projects, though he stressed that the current film has not yet been released. However, he also mentioned in a separate conversation that he is moving away from franchise work, with his next project being an original sci-fi film titled The Flood. Resident Evil is scheduled to premiere in theaters on September 18, featuring Austin Abrams as a medical courier caught in the chaos of Raccoon City.