Zach Cregger Shares the Christmas Classics Influencing His ‘Resident Evil’ Reboot

Zach Cregger has emerged as one of horror’s most exciting voices in recent years, thanks to the success of ‘Barbarian’ and the competitive bidding for his next script, ‘Weapons,’ at Warner Bros. This impressive track record made him a compelling choice for Sony when they selected him to revamp one of gaming’s most cherished horror franchises.

Adapting ‘Resident Evil’ for the screen presents unique challenges, given the franchise’s rich lore and a dedicated fanbase that knows the source material inside and out. Cregger has expressed his desire to honor that legacy while also creating something unique within the gaming universe.

This approach influenced how Cregger and lead actor Austin Abrams developed the film’s main character during production. Despite the film’s wintery backdrop, it turns out that two classic holiday films played a surprisingly significant role in shaping the tone of Bryan, the protagonist, along with another beloved 1980s film.

Cregger revealed that he and Abrams often referenced ‘Die Hard,’ ‘Back to the Future,’ and ‘Home Alone’ during filming, using the protagonists from these films as a guide for how Bryan should respond in various scenes. “We would huddle up, and it’d be a scene; [Austin Abrams] would be like, ‘Do you think I’m more like McLean [Die Hard] or McFly [Back to the Future] here?’ It’s like, you’re McFly here,” Cregger recalled in an interview with MovieWeb.

According to Cregger, Bryan primarily embodies the confused, reactive energy of Marty McFly rather than that of a confident action hero. “Most of the movie you’re McFly. You’re just kind of like, I don’t know, I don’t know what to do,” Cregger explained, noting that this uncertainty is a key aspect of the character throughout much of the film.

However, there are moments when Bryan showcases genuine heroism, tapping into John McClane’s resourcefulness from ‘Die Hard.’ In the film’s more chaotic scenes, Cregger noted that the character channels Kevin McCallister’s frantic energy from ‘Home Alone,’ completing the trio of cinematic references that guided their work during production.

‘Resident Evil’ centers on Bryan, a medical courier tasked with delivering a package to a general hospital in Raccoon City, only to find himself amidst a deadly outbreak and utter chaos. Lacking combat training, Bryan must fend off monstrous attackers using whatever he can find, embodying the scrappy, improvisational spirit that Cregger and Abrams crafted for the character.

The film features Austin Abrams in the lead role, who previously collaborated with Cregger on ‘Weapons,’ alongside Zach Cherry, Kali Reis, and Paul Walter Hauser in supporting roles. Cregger co-wrote the screenplay with Shay Hatten, with Constantin Film producing and co-financing the project alongside Vertigo Entertainment and PlayStation Productions.

The first trailer for Zach Cregger’s ‘RESIDENT EVIL’ has been released.

In theaters on September 18. pic.twitter.com/eeVCAGzy6M

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) April 30, 2026

Cregger also shared how quickly he recognized Abrams was the right fit for the role, noting that the decision solidified while they were still working on ‘Weapons.’ “I’d written this before I shot Weapons, and while we were shooting Weapons, I kind of knew I was like, this dude, like we just had such a good thing on that movie,” Cregger said, adding that casting Abrams felt like “a done deal” long before ‘Resident Evil’ officially began production.

This collaborative shorthand between director and actor seems to have directly influenced how they shaped Bryan’s character arc throughout the film, using those familiar cinematic references as a shared language on set. Given the enduring popularity of all three reference films, this approach is likely to resonate with audiences who cherish those classics.

Beyond character development, Cregger has consistently described his vision for ‘Resident Evil’ as a love letter to the games rather than a retelling of any existing character’s story. He has emphasized that the film exists outside the narratives fans are familiar with, opting instead to tell an original story that still honors the established rules of the games’ universe.

With a unique blend of horror elements and unexpected genre influences, ‘Resident Evil’ appears poised to deliver something fresh to a franchise that fans have cherished for decades.

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