Zach Cregger Needs To Draw Inspiration From This 23-Year-Old Fan-Favorite for His ‘Resident Evil’ Reboot

Hot off the heels of his smash-hit horror movie, Weapons, Zach Cregger readies his next project, a new live-action reboot of Capcom’s iconic video game series, Resident Evil. After the gigantic flop, Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City, the most recent live-action installment of the franchise, Cregger is the latest filmmaker seeking to achieve success with Resident Evil on the big screen. It’s a tall order, as the seven live-action Resident Evil movies thus far have ranged from mediocre to worse. One key that Cregger should consider for his upcoming adaptation is taking inspiration from the 23-year-old fan-favorite in the Resident Evil series, Resident Evil Zero. Cregger, loosely adapting Resident Evil Zero, might be the crucial element necessary for saving the live-action Resident Evil film franchise.

‘Resident Evil Zero’ Is Still One of the Franchise’s Most Unique Installments

Image via Capcom

Over thirty years since the franchise’s debut, Resident Evil Zero remains one of the stronger installments of the game series, considering it’s a prequel set before the original, classic 1996 video game. It tells the story of S.T.A.R.S. member Rebecca Chambers, discovering a zombie-infested express train controlled by the sinister Umbrella Corporation. Rebecca becomes mixed up with an escaped convict, Billy Coen, and discovers the untold horrors and dark secrets of the Umbrella Corporation and one of its enigmatic founders. Zero works so well due to its terrifying, claustrophobic environments, putting the protagonists in the uniquely terrifying and confined Ecliptic Express. To this day, it’s still one of the best and most unique locations in the franchise, depicting a more claustrophobic type of terror in contrast to the Spencer Mansion in Resident Evil, which resembles a dark labyrinth and house of horrors.

Resident Evil Zero delivers a tight storyline and a satisfyingly self-contained narrative. One does not need to play Resident Evil Zero to understand the earlier games in the series, and vice versa. Basically, it’s a big side-adventure and prequel story for Rebecca outside the main game, and it also introduces another important character in the overall Resident Evil Lore. Dr. James Marcus, the co-founder of Umbrella. Zero has steadily grown as a beloved installment over twenty-three years since it was released due to its effective use of survival horror elements, while offering fans fresh characters, enemies, and terrifying environments. Additionally, Resident Evil Zero boasts a great narrative that would be ripe for a media adaptation.

Zach Cregger Is Planning an Original Story Set Within the ‘Resident Evil’ Universe

Not much is known about Cregger’s upcoming Resident Evil adaptation, other than that he and co-writer Shay Hatten are writing an original story that Variety reports is “outside the characters of the games.” Additionally, Cregger informed Variety that his movie will be “obedient to the lore of the games” but tell “a different story.” Furthermore, Cregger does not plan on using any of the legacy characters. As Cregger states, “I’m not going to tell Leon’s story, because Leon’s story is told in the games. [Fans] already have that.” Fair enough, Cregger wants to create his own story within the Resident Evil Universe, but that could also be a recipe for disaster, as the live-action Resident Evil Netflix series has proven. That’s also what ultimately happened in the Paul W.S. Anderson films, focusing largely on Alice (Milla Jovovich), with the legacy characters from the games essentially acting as tertiary supporting players.

With Cregger crafting an original story set within the Resident Evil Universe, a direct adaptation of Resident Evil Zero is unfortunately off the table. However, Cregger should still consider adapting certain elements, ideas, characters, and locales from Resident Evil Zero. The director should also think about drawing inspiration from the overall look and style of Resident Evil Zero, which features a strong, escalating narrative as it progresses from the Arklay Mountains to the Ecliptic Express and then to the Umbrella Executive Training School. Cregger might even want to showcase or reference some of these locations in his upcoming film, serving as nods and Easter eggs to the classic Resident Evil Zero game — something that hardcore fans of the franchise will appreciate.

The Major Takeaway Zach Cregger Should Draw From ‘Resident Evil Zero’

Image via Capcom

Cregger should take inspiration from Resident Evil Zero regarding its compact narrative, which tells a smaller, self-contained story within the larger overall saga. If Cregger intends to tell a story that truly respects the roots and greater mythology of the franchise, he won’t be able to cause any huge, lore-breaking impacts as part of his new storyline. Most of the major mythology moments of the Resident Evil franchise happen in the mainline games, specifically Resident Evil 1-7, Code Veronica, and Resident Evil Village. Since Cregger wants to use his own original characters over the legacy characters, the new characters will not be as involved in the major events that define the grander mythology.

Resident Evil Zero showcases how the series can have a digestible story arc connected to the overall universe, but it does not significantly affect the larger overarching narrative. The vast Resident Evil saga also allows Cregger room to explore and experiment with his plans for the franchise, so he can create new corners of the franchise, much like Resident Evil Zero and other in-universe spin-offs. If he can maintain the survival horror style of the games, melding it with his refreshing sensibilities as a horror director, fans could be in for a compelling ride. Cregger understandably wants to leave his own stamp on Resident Evil with a fresh storyline and characters. Hopefully, he can still pay homage to fan favorites, like Resident Evil Zero, when the new Resident Evil movie hits theaters on September 18, 2026.

Resident Evil

Release Date

September 18, 2026

Director

Zach Cregger

Writers

Zach Cregger, Shay Hatten