Resident Evil Director Knows RE2 Didn't Have Snow or iPhones, But He 'Took Liberties' to Make the Movie Better
· IGN
Resident Evil director Zach Cregger has seen all the comments about the snow and iPhones in his new movie, but he said he's got a good reason for why he "took liberties" with the lore.
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Cregger has spent some of his time at San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) 2026 celebrating the release of his movie's new trailer. He's also used his presence at the show to talk more about why his version of the Raccoon City Incident looks different from what fans of games like Resident Evil 2 and 3 might have expected.
"I take liberties," he told IGN. "It's not 1998. It takes place in modern times. I know that, during the events of Resident Evil 2, it's not snowing, and yet, in this movie, I thought it would be better for the story and for the visual, you know, whatever I'm doing, if it was snowy. It's going to be a better movie for it.
"I am not trying to adapt a video game. I'm not using the characters from the games. I'm not telling a story that the games tell because I'm not going to be able to do it better than the games. The games are so well executed, and to me, Leon and Claire and these characters, they exist so perfectly in the games that anyone I cast and any difference that I do with them would be, probably, to the detriment of what I was trying to do."
Most fans would agree; mixing the director behind Barbarian and Weapons into the Resident Evil universe feels like a recipe for success. Although the premiere of its first trailer largely kept the hype momentum going, it's also safe to say it's picked up a few critics along the way.
Some were quick to point out that, while the original lore saw the Raccoon City Incident take place in the late '90s in a rainy town on the brink of destruction, Cregger's film seemed to be set in a more modern, wintry timeline. Despite a plethora of references to elements and moments that should feel familiar to fans, the criticism from the more skeptical watchers has only simmered the last few months.
Cregger has already spent the time leading up to the Resident Evil movie proclaiming his love for games like Resident Evil 2 and 4, while also doing his best to calm uneasy watchers. Now, he's doing his best to put fears to rest entirely.
"It's kind of like when you have your favorite book, and then you find out someone is turning your favorite book into a movie, and then you hear who they cast, and you're always like, 'Not that. No. That's not what I want.' I'm not trying to do that," Cregger explained. "What I'm trying to do is make a Resident Evil movie that really is a love letter to the experience of playing a Resident Evil game. To me, that means a couple of different things."
He said his vision for a Resident Evil movie needs things like the T-Virus, Umbrella Corporation, and Raccoon City. Pieces of the puzzle like this are "necessary," which is why, instead of seeing Leon quip one-liners with star Austin Abrams, fans are far more likely to see that classic red-and-white logo pop up.
"They're in there, but the most important thing I'm trying to do is make a movie that feels like it's unraveling the way that, when you play the game, it's unfolding," Cregger continued. "To me, that means a couple of different things. It's about one character moving on foot from point A to point B, moving from set piece to set piece, location to location.
"Every location has its own unique threat, right? You have to keep in mind resource management and your health. You're wounded, and you feel like you never have enough ammunition, and the world is always too big for you, and yet somehow, you've got to make it through, right? That's what I'm trying to do."
The most recent Resident Evil movie trailer showed more of Abrams' courier character while teasing some of the other connections to the wider universe. Like the first clip, it had its fans and its critics, as the footage reminded viewers of its modern settings and lore tweaks. Cregger has said that, when the film finally premieres, those who are most familiar with the series should feel right at home.
"It's like, if this movie was a Resident Evil game, call it Resident Evil 10, it wouldn't feel weird. You know what I mean? That's what I'm trying to build."
Cregger finalized his response to concerned fans by saying he gets why so many are upset. Resident Evil means so much to so many people, and the franchise's movies have mostly strayed from the source material, but that's why this movie will blend its lore with the true feel of a survival horror adventure.
"I get the instinct to dig in," Cregger said. "I'll be honest: I've never seen a Resident Evil movie because they don't look, to me, like what I love so much about the games that I play. I was just like, 'Not my Resident Evil.' So, I understand that attitude. I'm making this because I want a movie to exist that feels like the experience of playing the game, and so, I was able to do that. That's what I'm doing."
Cregger's Resident Evil movie comes to theaters September 18, 2026. While we wait for Cregger to share more, you can check out why a completely different group of fans went after the trailer. You can also read about how Abrams almost met an untimely fate on set.
Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He's best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).