Zach Cregger Discusses His Apology Tour to ‘Resident Evil’ Fans

Horror enthusiasts have witnessed Zach Cregger’s impressive ascent this year, transitioning from indie disruptor to a highly regarded figure in the genre. Following the success of ‘Barbarian’ and the recognition from ‘Weapons,’ Cregger is now venturing into the established territory of a franchise that boasts a fervent, sometimes critical fanbase.

That franchise is ‘Resident Evil,’ and the responsibility of handling one of gaming’s most cherished horror properties has clearly weighed heavily on him. Throughout the past year, Cregger has faced numerous inquiries regarding his connection to the source material, striving to assure skeptics of his deep-rooted passion for the games.

In a recent interview with The Playlist, Cregger opened up about the toll that skepticism has taken on him. He likened his ongoing defense of his fandom to a political campaign, stating that he feels like he has been on an apology tour to prevent people from labeling him a LARPer. “Now, I’m just like, ‘You know what? See the movie,'” he remarked. “If you still feel the same way, then whatever you think is fair.”

Cregger’s frustration is understandable, especially considering the extensive preparation that went into securing this opportunity. Instead of crafting a speculative script, he had the entire story envisioned before approaching Constantin Film, the rights holder for the franchise, pitching the concept directly to avoid the risk of writing something that might never be produced.

Once he received the green light from Constantin, Cregger collaborated with co-writer Shay Hatten to develop an original narrative that follows Bryan, a medical courier portrayed by Austin Abrams, whose routine delivery spirals into a harrowing fight for survival as Raccoon City descends into chaos. Abrams, who previously collaborated with Cregger on ‘Weapons,’ played a small yet memorable role that convinced the director he had found his lead even before ‘Resident Evil’ became a tangible project.

Stylistically, the film represents a shift from the intricate, multi-perspective narratives that characterized ‘Barbarian’ and ‘Weapons.’ Cregger explained that he stripped away much of the score during the final mix, testing scenes without music to gauge audience reactions to tension without the influence of a soundtrack.

Despite the challenges of defending his vision publicly, Cregger remains open to exploring the world he has created. He shared with The Playlist that he already has ideas for potential future stories in this corner of the franchise, although he was careful to clarify that nothing is confirmed since the film has yet to be released.

This openness contrasts with his stance on revisiting ‘Barbarian,’ a project he has consistently stated does not require a sequel due to its narrative nature. In contrast, ‘Resident Evil’ seems to have left him with more avenues to explore, particularly regarding the film’s conclusion, which he hinted contains a significant element he is eager to discuss once audiences have seen it.

For now, all eyes are on how the completed film will resonate with the fandom that Cregger has worked so hard to win over. Early reactions to a 30-minute preview screening have reportedly been positive, but the true test will come when the movie hits theaters.

‘Resident Evil’ is set to premiere in theaters on September 18 through Columbia Pictures, giving Cregger just under two weeks to discover whether his apology tour will finally conclude.

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