- Sony win bidding war to secure rights to franchise
- A 2026 date is set for the film’s release
- Zach Cregger is expected to harken back to game’s horror roots
Sony has emerged victorious in a competitive bidding war with Warner Bros and Netflix to secure the rights to the Resident Evil franchise. Wasting no time, the studio has already set a release date for the highly anticipated Columbia Pictures live-action reboot.
Read more: Resident Evil reboot in the works
At the helm of this new adaptation is Zach Cregger, the director behind the critically acclaimed horror film Barbarian. Not only will Cregger direct, but he has also penned the script, promising a fresh and terrifying take on the Capcom video game series. Fans are hopeful that this iteration will finally deliver a true survival horror experience, following decades of lackluster attempts on the big screen.
Read more: The Last of Us season 2 cast adds Joe Pantoliano and more
The original Resident Evil debuted as a PlayStation game in 1996, before becoming available on various other consoles and spawning into a multimedia franchise. Over the years, the series has seen seven live-action films and four animated films.
The most recent Resident Evil film is the animated feature Resident Evil: Death Island, directed by Eiichirō Hasumi. It was released in Japan and the United States in July 2023. However, it’s been four years since the last live-action instalment, Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City (2021). While fans appreciated its attempt to stay faithful to the games, the film lacked truly scary moments and felt rushed. Ultimately, it failed to reignite the Resident Evil franchise – something that Cregger will hope to achieve.
It’s worth noting though, that while the franchise has spawned some very disappointing movies, it has been massively successful financially, grossing $1.2 billion worldwide.
Here’s everything we know so far about the latest Resident Evil reboot.
Who’s going to star in the Resident Evil reboot?
The film was only reported to be in development in January 2025, so there’s no news yet on the actors set to star, nor any rumors to go on. However, casting and production details should be available in a few months as plans begin to take shape.
Milla Jovovich starred in six Resident Evil movies from 2002 to 2016, as the original character Alice created for the films. It’s highly unlikely she’ll return for this reboot. Alice didn’t appear in the last installment, and Cregger will be eager to put his own stamp on the franchise without any callbacks to older films.
What’s the film going to be about?
Cregger is currently working on the screenplay with Shay Hatten (John Wick: Chapter 3 and Chapter 4). Details are under wraps but it is expected to harken back to the original Capcom game’s horror roots.
Fans have much to be excited about, as speaking to Deadline, Cregger said “I’ve been a rabid fan of these games for decades, and to be able to bring this amazing title to life is a true honor”.
Producer Robert Kulzer of Constantin Film, which is producing and co-financing the movie, commented on the prospect of Cregger directing, adding “The world of Resident Evil experienced through Zach’s vision is an irresistible feat.”
What’s the release date set for the Resident Evil reboot?
Sony, which distributed all previous Resident Evil movies, has set a theatrical release date of 18 September 2026.
Sanford Panitch, president of Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group spoke of Sony’s excitement for the release, stating “Zach is one of the most talented exciting new directors to come on the scene in many years. His brilliant approach in restarting and refreshing this legendary Sony franchise instantly makes this one of our most important releases in 2026.”
To make the release date, filming is expected to start at some point this year, so watch this space for more details.
