Resident Evil Director Won't Tackle Another Franchise After This

Zach Cregger says Resident Evil will be his only franchise movie, preferring original stories. He clarifies his 'original story' approach and teases what's next.

Ever dreamed of directing a blockbuster video game movie? For Zach Cregger, the man behind 2026's hotly anticipated Resident Evil reboot, it's a one-and-done deal. In a recent chat with Deadline, Cregger dropped a bombshell: after Resident Evil, he's out of the franchise game for good.

"I'm doing this, and that's it for me," he said. "I'm not going to go tackle any other franchises." Why? Because he values creative freedom over fan service. "I don't want to write something where I have to make sure I'm tagging different data points to satisfy X. I just want to satisfy me."

So why did he say yes to Resident Evil at all? Simple: he's a huge fan of the games and had an original idea he believed in. "I think this movie is cool, and I hope it checks the fan boxes because I'm a fan and I'm checking my boxes," he explained. "I'm making the Resident Evil movie that I wish existed, so I can do that with a clean heart and a clear conscience and not feel like I'm getting f*cked by some weird industry thing."

Cregger also cleared up earlier comments about his story being "original." Some fans worried he'd just slapped the Resident Evil label on a random script, but that's not the case. "What I mean is it's an original story, but it's still a Resident Evil story," he clarified. "I'm not taking a story from the games; that's what that means."

Of course, a $20 million paycheck probably sweetened the deal—reports say that's what he got for writing and directing. But after this, he's moving on. He's already attached to co-write the Siren Head movie, and his next directorial project is The Flood, a sci-fi thriller set in deep space.

Resident Evil hits theaters on September 18, and it's expected to smash franchise opening weekend records. But for Cregger, this is a one-way ticket. Will you be checking out his take on Raccoon City, or are you more excited about his original sci-fi work? Let us know in the comments!