‘Resident Evil’ Director Zach Cregger Suggests Christina Hendricks for Live-Action Lady Dimitrescu

Tena Milakovic
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Zach Cregger has been quietly establishing himself as a reliable director in the horror genre, first with ‘Barbarian’ and then with the Oscar-winning film ‘Weapons.’ Both projects showcased original narratives and unsettling twists, making his next venture feel like a significant shift.

That next project is ‘Resident Evil,’ Cregger’s fresh take on the iconic Capcom video game series. The film centers around an ordinary medical courier named Bryan, who finds himself in the midst of a viral outbreak in Raccoon City. Instead of focusing on well-known characters like Leon Kennedy or Claire Redfield, Cregger opted to create an entirely new protagonist, keeping the film’s connection to the games rooted in tone and structure rather than familiar faces.

This original approach means that one of the franchise’s most beloved villains, Lady Dimitrescu, is absent from Cregger’s film. However, this absence led to a recent viral moment when Cregger was asked whom he would cast if a live-action adaptation of ‘Resident Evil Village’ were to be made. Without hesitation, he named ‘Mad Men’ star Christina Hendricks as his ideal choice for the imposing, aristocratic vampire.

Cregger’s choice draws a direct connection to Hendricks’s Emmy-nominated role as Joan Holloway on ‘Mad Men,’ where she demonstrated her ability to command attention with her mere presence. This magnetic quality is precisely what Lady Dimitrescu requires, given the character’s larger-than-life aristocratic menace in ‘Resident Evil Village.’

Lady Dimitrescu made her debut in the 2021 game ‘Resident Evil Village,’ quickly becoming a standout character due to her towering height and Gothic, vampire-inspired design. Capcom has noted that the character was influenced by Morticia Addams and other iconic wicked women, with developers aiming to avoid a conventional Gothic vampire appearance.

Screenshot 2026 09 17 at 08 57 36 Resident Evil 2026 Rotten Tomatoes

It’s important to clarify that Cregger’s comment is purely hypothetical fan casting and not an official casting announcement or confirmed project. There is currently no greenlit film adaptation of ‘Resident Evil Village,’ and Hendricks has not been formally linked to any Lady Dimitrescu role in any medium.

Cregger’s own ‘Resident Evil’ focuses entirely on original characters and storylines, and he has expressed no intention of revisiting the franchise anytime soon, preferring to concentrate on his original material. Nevertheless, the internet has largely embraced his casting suggestion, indicating that fans have long desired to see Hendricks in the role.

In the games, Lady Dimitrescu was voiced and brought to life through motion capture by actress Maggie Robertson, whose performance earned her the Best Performance award at The Game Awards. Robertson has previously stated she would gladly reprise the role if Capcom ever reached out, whether for future games or any potential live-action or animated projects.

Hendricks is not entirely new to gaming, having voiced Sam Harper in 2011’s ‘Need for Speed: The Run,’ though her career has primarily revolved around live-action roles, from ‘Mad Men’ to ‘Good Girls’ and a memorable supporting role in Ryan Gosling’s ‘Drive.’ This versatility is part of why Cregger’s choice has resonated so widely; Hendricks has already proven she can leave a lasting impression even with limited screen time.

Cregger’s ‘Resident Evil’ film is set to hit theaters this week, generating strong early buzz with a narrative that unfolds on the outskirts of the events from ‘Resident Evil 2,’ following its own characters through a chaotic night in Raccoon City instead of intersecting with the established heroes from the games. Whether any future installment in the franchise will eventually bring Lady Dimitrescu to the big screen remains uncertain.

For now, Cregger’s endorsement serves as a strong and widely shared opinion on who should take on the role, even if it comes from a director who insists his creative future lies elsewhere.

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