Resident Evil Film Will Be an Original Story Without Leon, Confirms Director
New details have emerged about the upcoming Resident Evil film, and fans may be surprised by the direction it is taking. Director Zach Cregger (Barbarian, Weapons) has confirmed in an interview with Entertainment Weekly that the movie will feature an entirely original story set within the Resident Evil universe. Contrary to speculation, the film will not include Leon S. Kennedy, one of the franchise’s most beloved characters.
An Original Take Within the Resident Evil World
Cregger emphasized that his approach is not to borrow iconic characters for the sake of fan service but to tell a fresh story that still respects the established canon.
“It's an entirely original story. When you watch it, you'll be like, 'This is very Zach.' It just takes place in the Resident Evil world. I don't think fans of the games are gonna be bummed. I'm not gonna steal Leon and put him in an original story. I think that would be presumptuous. But I respect the games enough where I'm gonna tell a Resident Evil story in the Resident Evil canon that still leaves everything they love intact from the games.”
He added that while the decision might sound unusual now, he hopes fans will understand once they see how his creative style merges with the Resident Evil universe.
What We Know About the Story
According to the official synopsis, the movie will follow a hapless courier tasked with delivering a package to a remote hospital. What starts as a simple job quickly spirals into chaos as the courier becomes trapped in the middle of an outbreak and must fight hordes of mutated creatures to survive.
Actor Austin Abrams (This Is Us, Euphoria, Wolfs, Weapons), who was the first confirmed cast member, is widely expected to play the courier protagonist. Recently, it was also revealed that Paul Walter Hauser (Cobra Kai, Black Bird, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, The Naked Gun) has joined the cast in an undisclosed role.
A New Chapter in Resident Evil Adaptations
This marks the third major attempt at a Resident Evil film saga based on Capcom’s iconic survival horror franchise. The history of adaptations includes:
Paul W. S. Anderson’s six-film series (2002–2016) starring Milla Jovovich, which became cult classics for some but strayed heavily from the games.
Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City (2021), a reboot that attempted a more faithful approach but failed to resonate with critics and many fans.
Netflix’s Resident Evil series (2022), which leaned away from the games’ lore and was canceled after just one season.
Cregger’s film now represents a fresh direction, one that may succeed by focusing on a self-contained original story that still pays respect to the franchise’s themes of bioterror, survival, and corporate conspiracy.
With production moving forward and cast announcements continuing to roll in, fans will be watching closely to see if this new Resident Evil film can finally capture the essence of the games while offering something new.
Do you think Resident Evil fans will embrace an entirely original story, or should the films stick more closely to the games’ characters and plots?
