We have to admit, we were a bit skeptical when Barbarian director Zach Cregger announced he was taking a stab at the Resident Evil franchise. After all, this is a property with decades of video game history, a loyal fanbase and some pretty familiar faces. We wondered how Cregger would approach it without simply giving us another retread of what we’d already seen.
Boy, were we glad to be wrong.
Cregger nailed the atmosphere and survival horror feel of the games, delivering a tense ride that felt like stepping into a nightmare and trying to make it out alive. Rather than leaning on established characters like Leon S. Kennedy or Claire Redfield, he introduced audiences to Bryan, an ordinary guy caught in an extraordinary amount of trouble. The result was a fresh perspective on the Resident Evil universe, one that let the horror take center stage.
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The gamble certainly paid off at the box office. Cregger’s 2026 film has crossed the $400 million mark worldwide, and now the filmmaker is talking about where the franchise could go next.
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During an appearance on The Town with Matthew Belloni, Cregger was asked whether he would be comfortable with other filmmakers continuing the series after his movie. His answer made it clear that he isn’t quite ready to walk away.
“I would want to have some hand in them. I can’t help but have an idea for where that franchise, I’m calling it a franchise, could go. So, certainly.”
That doesn’t necessarily mean Cregger plans to direct another installment, but he certainly seems interested in having a creative role in whatever comes next. He has previously discussed wanting to pursue original stories rather than becoming tied down to one franchise. His upcoming projects include The Flood, a science fiction film currently planned for 2028, and a Weapons prequel centered on Aunt Gladys, which he is producing.
For now, no follow-up to Resident Evil has been officially announced. Still, with the film’s box office success and Cregger already thinking about its future, we’d certainly welcome another trip into this particular nightmare.
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