Resident Evil director Zach Cregger is approaching Capcom’s survival-horror world from an unusual angle. Instead of directly adapting its established characters and storylines, his film aims to capture the experience of being trapped inside one of the franchise’s most dangerous scenarios.
The September release follows a medical courier, played by Austin Abrams, travelling towards Raccoon City after it has been overrun by zombies and other monstrous threats. Although that setup may seem unconventional for the beginning of a new film series, early signs point to a possible continuation.
A strong opening could support Resident Evil sequels
The film’s initial box-office prospects are one reason a follow-up now appears possible. Deadline’s projection places the opening weekend somewhere between $35 million and $50 million domestically, which would be a franchise record.
That would be a significant result for Sony Pictures after Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City concluded its 2021 theatrical run with $41.9 million worldwide. The new film’s performance will help determine whether Cregger’s version becomes the foundation for another chapter.
For readers following the wider arcade and gaming news, the project is also notable because it treats the game series as an atmosphere and survival challenge rather than simply a catalogue of familiar heroes.
Cregger has already imagined what could happen next
Cregger originally expected his involvement with the Resident Evil property to be a one-film experiment. Once production was complete, however, he found himself developing further ideas for the setting and its characters.
During an interview, he said that a trilogy was not his plan while making the movie. He had expected the experience to be “one and done”, but finishing the project prompted him to think about other directions the franchise could take.
That does not mean a sequel has been approved. Cregger’s next project is already arranged, and it will not be another Resident Evil film. He intends to make that film first, leaving any possible return to the franchise for later.
What comes after the first film?
Resident Evil is scheduled to open in Australian cinemas on 18 September. Its central idea—surviving a dangerous journey through a hostile city—could give a follow-up room to explore a different part of the game-inspired world without simply repeating the first film.
Cregger’s next movie is The Flood, an original science-fiction story scheduled for release on 11 August 2028. Amblin Entertainment, Steven Spielberg’s production company, is producing it, and Cregger has described the screenplay as possibly the best thing he has written.
For anyone considering a Resident Evil-inspired home setup, a light-gun arcade shooter can bring a similar survival-action feel to a games room. Those planning a custom cabinet can also compare DIY arcade kits or browse the arcade machine buying guide before choosing a format.
The immediate question is whether audiences will turn the new film into a commercial success. If they do, Cregger has made clear that he is no longer short of ideas for where this version of Resident Evil might go next.
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