Resident Evil Director Admits He Wouldn't Survive His Own Movie

In a recent Reddit AMA, director Zach Cregger reveals why his Resident Evil movie will be more grounded than the games and why he has 'no chance' of surviving in that world.

Ever wondered if you'd survive a zombie apocalypse? Most of us like to think we'd be the hero, but director Zach Cregger—the guy behind the upcoming live-action Resident Evil movie—has no such illusions. In a recent Reddit AMA, he admitted he'd be zombie chow in seconds flat.

Cregger is taking a different approach with his film. While the games have gotten progressively more fantastical—like in Resident Evil 8 where a lady literally turns into a bird—he's dialing it back. "I feel like some of the Resident Evil games get a little magical," he said. "I've played it a bunch of times. I think it's an awesome game, but in terms of me making a movie out of it, I've got to try and limit some of the wild aspects."

So what's his solution? Stick with the classic T-Virus and keep it grounded. That means no giant trench-coat-wearing Mr. X. Cregger's got a point: where would a zombie even get a coat like that? In his version, the outbreak just happened, so it's all chaos and primal survival—no time for fashion.

But even with a simpler premise, Cregger knows the T-Virus still brings plenty of cool mutations. He's just choosing to focus on the raw, early days of the outbreak. It's a smart move that should make the horror feel more immediate and terrifying.

Cregger's background in sketch comedy with The Whitest Kids U' Know might seem odd for a horror director, but he says it actually helps. "The muscles I developed for creating sketch comedy also helped me zero in on 'absurd' opportunities and find the right timing for unexpected results." So expect some darkly comedic moments amidst the scares.

As for surviving his own creation? Not a chance. "There's no chance I would survive," he bluntly stated. "I wouldn't have survived the cop car attack because I would have probably just dropped to my knees and just been like, just bite me, just f***ing do it." We've all been there, right? The man knows his limits.

Resident Evil hits theaters on September 18, and it's projected to have a massive opening weekend. Will you be picking this up? Or are you more of a "fight or flight" person? Let us know in the comments!