Resident Evil movie director says Leon S. Kennedy won't be making an appearance

The latest theatrical adaptation of Capcom’s Resident Evil franchise is being directed by Zach Cregger, who recently shared some interesting details about his upcoming film in an interview with Entertainment Weekly.

Cregger said that the upcoming movie will feature an entirely original story and will, unfortunately, not feature fan-favorite Leon S. Kennedy.

He said:

“It’s an entirely original story. When you watch it, you’ll be like, ‘This is very Zach.’ It’s just that it takes place in the Resident Evil world. I don’t think fans of the games are gonna be bummed. I’m not gonna steal Leon and put him in an original story. I think that would be presumptuous.

But I respect the games enough where I’m gonna like tell a Resident Evil story in the Resident Evil canon that still leaves everything they love intact from the games, you know what I mean?”

Cregger has co-written the script for Resident Evil alongside Shay Hatten. The story reportedly revolves around a hapless courier who is likely portrayed by Austin Abrams, who is dispatched to deliver a mysterious package to a remote hospital, only to be entangled in the nightmarish origins of the T-Virus outbreak.

Cregger further added, “I think that when you see it, you’ll understand how I can be obsessed with original ideas and still make a movie that is an IP-based thing. I know that doesn’t make a lot of sense now, but I hope it will later.”

Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil adaptation is the third major cinematic endeavor based on the franchise, following a mixed legacy of adaptations.

The first saga consisted of six films directed by Paul W.S. Anderson from 2002 to 2016, starring Milla Jovovich as Alice. In 2021, Johannes Robert’s Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City tried to encompass a more faithful reboot, trying to draw from the first two games with actors including Kaya Scodelario and Robbie Amell.

However, it failed to meet fan expectations and underperformed at the box office with only a $36 million gross against a $40 million budget.

Sony Pictures, which distributed all prior films, is set to release Cregger’s theatrical vision for Resident Evil on September 18, 2026.