Resident Evil Reboot Set Visit Reveals Story, Characters & Game Connections

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Milla Jovovich starred in six successful Resident Evil movies – the most profitable film series based on a video game ever made. However, those films were often criticized for straying from the source material. A 2021 reboot, Welcome to Raccoon City, directed by Johannes Roberts, aimed for greater accuracy to the games, but unfortunately, it wasn’t well-received by critics or audiences.

I’ve definitely become more adventurous with travel over the years – I’ve been to places like Bali and Japan recently. I’ve always wanted to visit Raccoon City, but I’ve hesitated because it seems really risky, with all the zombies and dangerous creatures that live there.

I had the chance to visit the set of Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil movie last year for ScreenRant, and I knew it was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I visited Jordan Studios in Prague on a gray December day in 2025, but after seeing things firsthand, I left feeling confident that this reboot is bringing something new and exciting to the Resident Evil franchise.

How the Resident Evil Movie Reimagines Survival Horror

Our tour of the Resident Evil movie set felt like stepping into the game itself, taking us through creepy sewers and secret labs – thankfully, with fewer zombies! It quickly became clear that director Cregger wasn’t simply recreating the story, but instead using the franchise’s core survival horror elements in a new way.

The movie’s story is straightforward: Austin Abrams stars as Bryan, a delivery driver who has to transport a package to Raccoon City. But once he gets there, everything goes wrong. He finds himself running from terrifying, genetically engineered creatures as the city is overtaken by a deadly virus outbreak. It’s going to be a chaotic and terrifying night for him.

One of the biggest reasons we were excited to visit the set of Resident Evil was to meet Zach Cregger, who’s quickly become a major name in horror thanks to films like Barbarian and Weapons. It would have been amazing to watch him direct a scene, especially one with plenty of action and special effects. Unfortunately, he was sick the day we were at Jordan Studios, so we didn’t have the chance to meet him.

A few months back, I got to chat with director Brandon Cregger over Zoom, and honestly, it was awesome. He happily answered all our nerdy questions, and you could feel how much he loves both the Resident Evil universe and his own vision for the movie. He even told us he and producer Roy Lee went straight to the people who own the rights, Constantine, with their idea for a fresh take on the story.

I introduced myself and said, ‘I have an idea for your most important project.’ I shared my story concept, letting them know they were free to accept or reject it. Luckily, they really liked it.

Previous movies have been criticized for straying from the original source material, but director Cregger points out that the Resident Evil games themselves frequently introduce new characters and locations. He argues that telling a story not centered around Leon Kennedy doesn’t betray the spirit of Resident Evil, as the games have also moved away from his story in certain installments. Cregger aimed to create a narrative that feels like playing a Resident Evil game – a new story within that world – without interfering with Leon’s established storyline.

“It’s Going To Be Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil Because It Can’t Not Be”

If you’re wondering, the movie fits into the established game storyline, happening at the same time as the events of Resident Evil 2. However, don’t anticipate characters crossing over or any big surprise appearances. This adaptation, directed by Cregger, is taking its own unique path. While it doesn’t retell a specific game story, it will capture the feel of classic survival horror games.

The story centers around a character thrown into a terrifying situation who must use both intelligence and combat skills to survive. Starting with absolutely nothing, he battles progressively tougher enemies and acquires increasingly powerful weapons along the way.

I’m really excited to be working on a Resident Evil movie – that’s the dream, honestly. I want it to be a true love letter to the games, a real celebration of everything I enjoy about them. And it’s definitely going to have my style – it just feels like a Zach Cregger movie through and through. Everything I’m doing is rooted in honoring the source material, that’s the most important thing to me.

Director Craig Cregger is full of praise for Austin Abrams, who he thinks will be the standout performance in Resident Evil. Unlike most Resident Evil games where players control a skilled fighter, Abrams plays a regular guy, Bryan, thrown into a zombie outbreak. Cregger describes Bryan as someone the audience can relate to – just an average person trying to survive the chaos.

“500 Gallons Of Blood”

Since Zach was sick, experienced production designer Tom Hammock (known for his work on Weapons and Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire) took charge of the set visit. The friendly Mr. Hammock showed the group around, including a remarkably realistic sewer – it looked and felt so dirty, you could almost smell it! It was completely dark inside, and they used their phone lights to find their way. The sewer was built in a curved shape, hiding a major surprise for the character Bryan.

On the sewer tour, Tom revealed that Zach Cregger is a huge fan of video games, especially the Resident Evil series – specifically games 2, 3, 4, and 6 – which heavily influenced the story. Since the film’s events happen around the time of Resident Evil 2, the filmmakers used that game as a visual guide for creating Raccoon City. Tom also promised that the movie is packed with easter eggs for gamers to find, like the iconic green herbs and uniquely shaped keys.

Zach Cregger meticulously plans his films by creating detailed storyboards, and his approach to Resident Evil was no different. Once the production designer finished work on the sewer scenes, he gave the team a tour of the art department.

The art department’s walls were covered in storyboards illustrating the story’s biggest scenes. We also saw detailed scale models of all the places Bryan travels to, like a hospital that had fallen into disrepair.

The set was incredibly realistic, covered in fake blood – around 500 gallons, according to Tom. Many of the creatures seen are original to Cregger’s vision for Resident Evil, showcasing his personal touch on the series. Even though Resident Evil 6 isn’t a fan favorite, Hammock notes it inspired the design of some of the monsters Bryan fights, giving them a slimy, menacing appearance with lots of teeth.

“Resident Evil Could Use A Good Kick In The A**”

Considering all the discussion about monsters, it’s fitting we visited the workshop of Legacy Effects, led by Shane Mahan. When we arrived, we saw a fascinating collection of monster creations spread across a table – some were mildly unsettling, while others were truly frightening. Legacy Effects is staffed by experienced professionals with years of expertise, and Mahan himself began his career working on classic films like The Terminator and Predator.

Movie fans may recognize Legacy’s effects work from films like Alien: Romulus and The Suicide Squad. Now, for the new Resident Evil movie, the team is using a combination of practical and digital effects to realize director Zach Cregger’s ideas. This includes traditional makeup, puppets, physical sculptures, and computer-generated imagery. Legacy’s Mahan explains that while it’s helpful for actors to react to real, physical effects, the most convincing results often come from seamlessly combining different techniques.

Even the most talented actors benefit from having something real to respond to – a physical sensation or object. When an actor actually feels something, like being hit or cut, it enhances their performance. Great acting is often about reacting, and that real stimulus can make a big difference. However, that doesn’t diminish the importance of computer-generated imagery, which is still crucial for filmmaking.

Even though he’s designed many terrifying creatures, Mahan says he doesn’t have a favorite monster from Resident Evil, jokingly comparing it to choosing a favorite child. He does praise Legacy’s work with director Cregger, describing him as “incredibly gracious” and highlighting his strong, clear vision for the project.

The team is incredibly excited to see the finished project, describing it as a thrilling ride that just keeps building. Visual effects expert Mahan believes the series needed a fresh boost, and Cregger’s reboot seems to be exactly what it needed to revitalize the franchise.

Being on the set of Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil really confirmed what Mahan said. The movie is packed with original and exciting set pieces and monsters. What I loved most is that it truly feels like a survival horror experience, staying true to the spirit of the games without simply retreading familiar ground. It felt fresh and inventive, not like a copy of something we’ve already seen.

The director has repeatedly said his movie is similar in style to Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead 2, and that’s a good way to describe its vibe. Resident Evil seems like it will be a thrilling, funny, and very violent horror film that grabs your attention immediately and keeps you on the edge of your seat until the very end. It’s a bold move to compare your work to Sam Raimi, but after seeing what the director of Weapons has done, it feels justified.

More from ScreenRant’s Resident Evil Set Visit

  • Where In The Resident Evil Video Game Timeline Cregger’s Movie Takes Place
  • Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil Is Faithful To The Most Important Aspect Of The Games
  • Why Zach Cregger Never Saw A Resident Evil Movie Before His New Adaptation

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2026-04-30 16:42