Constantin Films had planned to pause the Resident Evil movie franchise after the disappointing theatrical results of 2021's Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City. Director Zach Cregger's approach to the company prompted it to reconsider, according to chief executive Oliver Berben.
Berben said Cregger brought his own concepts for a Resident Evil film to Constantin, which holds the property's movie rights. The approach came before the release of Weapons, with Barbarian having already established Cregger's credentials in horror. His interest offered the company a reason to revisit the series rather than leave it dormant following the previous installment's box-office showing.
Cregger, formerly part of the comedy group The Whitest Kids U Know, has received critical praise for Barbarian and Weapons. His move toward Resident Evil comes amid renewed momentum for the video game franchise, which has delivered successful releases over several years, even as its most recent film adaptation struggled to attract moviegoers.
