Director Zach Cregger is addressing fan criticism regarding the modern setting and snowy aesthetic of his upcoming Resident Evil film, which departs from the source material’s 1998 roots. Cregger stated that he isn’t trying to directly adapt the games, but rather capture the “experience” of playing them through a fresh lens.
The film, which features a modern timeline and snowy Raccoon City, is scheduled to hit theaters on September 18, 2026. Cregger emphasized that while the movie avoids direct game characters, it remains a “love letter” to the franchise’s survival horror DNA.