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| A screengrab of Leon S. Kennedy actor Nick Apostolides talking to Radio Times Gaming |
After years of disappointing live-action adaptations, the man behind gaming’s most beloved zombie-killer finally sees a glimmer of light—but he’s keeping his guard up.
Let’s be honest: being a Resident Evil fan in the movie theater has never been easy. For every iconic zombie dog jumping through a window, there’s been a muddled script, a bizarre action-hero detour, or a Milla Jovovich supercut that left purists shaking their heads. But now, something feels different. A new Resident Evil film is on the horizon, directed by Zach Cregger—the madman who gave us Barbarian—and even the voice of Leon S. Kennedy himself is feeling something he hasn’t felt in a long time: cautious optimism.
Speaking at the BAFTA Games Awards 2026, Nick Apostolides—the actor who brought Leon to life in the smash-hit Resident Evil Requiem—didn’t hold back about his complicated relationship with Hollywood’s past attempts. And frankly, his words will resonate with anyone who’s ever walked out of a Resident Evil movie thinking, “That wasn’t my Raccoon City.”
A Legacy of Disappointment
Previous Resident Evil movies have, to put it kindly, struggled to capture the franchise’s claustrophobic dread. Paul W.S. Anderson’s six-film series (2002–2016) became increasingly unrecognizable, trading survival horror for slow-motion gunfights and psychic powers. Then came 2021’s Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City, which tried to be faithful but stumbled into B-movie territory with uneven pacing and baffling creative choices.
Apostolides, who has spent hundreds of hours inside Leon’s tactical vest, admits he’s felt that sting personally.
“I am very cautiously optimistic,” he told Radio Times Gaming on the BAFTA red carpet. “I have been let down in the past.”
You can hear the exhaustion in that sentence. It’s the same exhaustion every fan feels when a beloved property gets optioned, adapted, and diluted. But then Apostolides’ tone shifts. He smiles. Because this time, there’s a name attached that actually makes sense.
Why Zach Cregger Might Just Save Resident Evil
If you haven’t seen Barbarian, do yourself a favor and fix that tonight. Zach Cregger’s 2022 horror breakout was a masterclass in tension, subversion, and genuine what the hell is happening energy. He followed it up with Weapons, another critically acclaimed nightmare that proved he wasn’t a one-hit wonder. Now, he’s turning his lens to Raccoon City.
And according to Apostolides, that’s reason for hope.
“If there’s one director who is not going to let me down, I think it’s going to be this guy,” Apostolides said. “I love Cregger’s work, and I trust that he’s going to make a good film first and foremost, and that it will have Resident Evil elements in it. So I’m very, very curious, actually.”
That last word—curious—is doing a lot of heavy lifting. It’s not blind excitement. It’s not hype. It’s the weary yet genuine interest of someone who has seen the blueprint fail before but recognizes genuine talent when they see it.
What We Know About Cregger’s Resident Evil (So Far)
During this year’s CinemaCon, Cregger unveiled a first look at in-progress footage that immediately set the internet ablaze. The film stars Austin Abrams (known for Euphoria and Dash & Lily) as Bryan, a medical courier trying to survive a T‑virus outbreak in the heart of Raccoon City. Yes, you read that right: no Jill Valentine. No Chris Redfield. No Leon—at least not yet.
Cregger is going for a standalone, grounded approach. Think The Last of Us HBO series, not Resident Evil: The Final Chapter. The story follows an original protagonist navigating a city collapsing under the weight of Umbrella’s sins. Zombies, lickers, and that signature Resident Evil dread are all promised, but without retreading the plots of the original games.
For fans who’ve memorized every line of dialogue from Resident Evil 2, this might sound risky. But after six movies that tried (and failed) to adapt the source material directly, perhaps an original story in the spirit of the games is exactly what the franchise needs.
Resident Evil Requiem Proves the Games Are Stronger Than Ever
Of course, none of this movie buzz would feel as electric if the games themselves weren’t thriving. And Resident Evil Requiem—the latest installment featuring Apostolides’ Leon—has been an absolute monster.
The game sold 6 million copies worldwide in its first month, topping sales charts across every platform. Critics praised its blend of classic survival horror and modern action, and fans called it a return to form for the series. In an era where game-to-film adaptations are finally getting good (The Last of Us, Arcane, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners), Requiem’s success has shone a spotlight back on Capcom’s zombie universe.
Timing, as they say, is everything.
For Fans Who Can’t Wait: Gear Up the Right Way
While we all hold our breath for Cregger’s vision to hit theaters, there’s no better time to revisit (or discover) what makes Resident Evil so special. Whether you’re a longtime fan or a newcomer curious about Leon’s journey before the reboot, having the right gaming gear makes all the difference.
Check out this must-have Resident Evil collectible on Amazon – perfect for anyone looking to bring a piece of Raccoon City home while we wait for the movie.
And if you want to hear Nick Apostolides’ full BAFTA speech—including his emotional thanks to the Requiem development team and his unfiltered thoughts on the franchise’s future—you can watch the official BAFTA Games Awards 2026 clip here on YouTube. Trust me, it’s worth three minutes of your time.
A Simple Name, A Complicated Hope
Cregger’s film carries a surprisingly simple title: Resident Evil. No colon. No subtitle. No Retribution or Apocalypse or Afterlife. Just the name that started it all. It’s a statement of intent: this is a reset.
Will it work? Apostolides isn’t ready to say yes—but he’s no longer saying no.
“I’m very, very curious,” he repeated. And for anyone who’s followed this franchise through its cinematic lows, that’s more than enough for now.
Resident Evil (2026) is currently in production, with no official release date yet confirmed. Zach Cregger directs from his own screenplay. Austin Abrams stars, with additional casting expected to be announced in the coming months.
Stay tuned—and keep your shotgun loaded.