Fans of the beloved Resident Evil video game series will need to adjust their expectations for the next cinematic outing, as director Zach Cregger has officially confirmed that the charismatic hero Leon S. Kennedy will not be making an appearance.
In an exclusive interview with Entertainment Weekly, Cregger pulled back the curtain on his highly anticipated, and somewhat secretive, reboot of the iconic survival horror franchise. While promising a story deeply embedded in the world fans know and love, the director revealed a significant creative choice: this will be an original tale that deliberately avoids plucking established heroes like Leon from the game's timeline.
An "Entirely Original Story" Within the Game's World
Cregger, best known for his critically acclaimed horror hit Barbarian, is taking a markedly different approach from previous live-action adaptations. He aims to craft a fresh narrative that exists within the canon of the games without interfering with the events fans hold dear.
“It’s an entirely original story,” Cregger stated emphatically. “When you watch it, you’ll be like, ‘This is very Zach.’ It’s just that it takes place in the Resident Evil world. I don’t think fans of the games are gonna be bummed."
He elaborated on his reasoning for leaving characters like Leon out of the picture, showcasing a clear respect for the source material. “I’m not gonna steal Leon and put him in an original story. I think that would be presumptuous. But I respect the games enough where I’m gonna like tell a Resident Evil story in the Resident Evil canon that still leaves everything they love intact from the games, you know what I mean?”
This approach suggests a film that captures the atmosphere, dread, and mythology of Resident Evil while telling a new, self-contained story. Cregger co-wrote the script with Shay Hatten (John Wick: Chapter 4, Army of the Dead), and the plot is reported to focus on a new character—a "hapless courier," likely played by Austin Abrams (The Walking Dead). This protagonist is dispatched to deliver a mysterious package to a remote hospital, only to find himself trapped at the epicenter of the nightmarish origins of the T-Virus outbreak.
Read the full exclusive interview with Zach Cregger at Entertainment Weekly
A New Vision After a Mixed Cinematic Legacy
Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil adaptation marks the third major attempt to bring the franchise to the big screen. The property has a complicated cinematic history. The first saga, helmed by Paul W.S. Anderson, ran for six films from 2002 to 2016. While commercially successful, these films, starring Milla Jovovich as the original character Alice, largely diverged from the plots and tone of the games, which divided the fanbase.
In 2021, director Johannes Roberts attempted a course correction with Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City. This film was marketed as a more faithful reboot, attempting to condense the storylines of the first two games and featuring a cast of classic characters, including Claire and Chris Redfield. However, the film was met with mixed-to-negative reviews from critics and fans alike, who critiqued its pacing and narrative choices. It ultimately underperformed at the box office, grossing only $36 million worldwide against a production budget of $40 million.
Cregger’s vision appears to be a direct response to this history. By telling an original story that doesn't attempt to rehash specific game plots or misuse existing characters, he hopes to satisfy both his own creative instincts and the expectations of a passionate fanbase.
A Promising, Yet Mysterious Future
Cregger remains confident that his unique approach will ultimately make sense to audiences. “I think that when you see it, you’ll understand how I can be obsessed with original ideas and still make a movie that is an IP-based thing,” he told EW. “I know that doesn’t make a lot of sense now, but I hope it will later.”
This statement will likely be the central point of discussion and anticipation as the film moves forward. Can a Resident Evil movie succeed without its most popular characters? Can an original story capture the essence of what makes the games so enduring?
Sony Pictures, the studio behind all prior theatrical releases for the franchise, is betting on Cregger's distinctive voice. The studio has set a release date of September 18, 2026, for this new chapter in the Resident Evil saga. While Leon S. Kennedy may not be answering the call this time, the stage is set for a fresh, terrifying entry that hopes to earn its place in the universe of survival horror.
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