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Zach Cregger Talks ‘Resident Evil,’ Intense Drive To Work With Spielberg That Led Him To ‘The Flood’ & ‘Obsession’/‘Backrooms’ Fervor – The Deadline Q&A
Zach Cregger, fresh off the Oscar-winning "Weapons" and the breakout hit "Barbarian," is set to release his take on "Resident Evil," a survival-horror adaptation following a medical courier (played by "Weapons" star Austin Abrams) who runs into the aftermath of the Umbrella Corporation's T-virus outbreak on a snowy night. The film, due in cinemas on 18 September, is tracking for what could be a franchise-record domestic opening, and early screenings suggest it may be Cregger's strongest work yet, built as a lean, relentless 95-minute thrill ride.
In a wide-ranging interview with Deadline, Cregger explains that the project began almost by chance while he was filming "Barbarian" in Bulgaria, when producer Roy Lee asked if there was a video game franchise he'd want to adapt; he immediately said "Resident Evil." After "Barbarian" became a hit, he pitched a stripped-down, gritty, horror-first concept centred on a medical courier, which was quickly approved, allowing him to write the script rapidly with collaborator Shay Hatten. The conversation also touches on his desire to work with Steven Spielberg, his upcoming projects "The Flood" and a "Weapons" prequel called "Gladys," the dark comedy "Little One," and his comments on "Obsession"/"Backrooms" fan enthusiasm, plus his stance that he won't be taking on further franchise films.
In short
- Zach Cregger's "Resident Evil" film opens 18 September, tracking for a franchise record.
- He pitched the survival-horror concept to Sony after "Barbarian" succeeded.
- Interview also covers his next projects, "The Flood" and "Gladys," and Spielberg ambitions.
Explained simply
Resident Evil began as a video game series about people caught up in a deadly outbreak linked to the Umbrella Corporation, a powerful company involved in biological research. Its stories often mix survival horror with action, and the series has expanded into films and other games.
Zach Cregger is a filmmaker whose horror films Barbarian and Weapons brought him wider attention. His Resident Evil story follows a medical courier who encounters the consequences of the T-virus outbreak, offering a new entry point into a long-running fictional world.
The interview also discusses Cregger’s other planned films and his interest in working with Steven Spielberg. His comments come amid growing audience interest in horror projects such as Obsession and Backrooms, and as familiar game and film franchises continue to attract new viewers.
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