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ᴋᴛʏɴʏ | Resident Evil & Survival Horror 🪽

about 14 hours ago

Zach Cregger & Austin Abrams: The Vision Behind the New Resident Evil movie, Between Horror & the Possibility of a Sequel 🎞️ In an exclusive interview with The Playlist, director Zach Cregger and lead actor Austin Abrams discuss their vision for Resident Evil, the creative process, fan skepticism, and the possibility of expanding the universe: 🔸 Crafting the Project: The Story Before the Script Q: You mentioned during the Q&A that you already had the entire story in your head. Did you write the screenplay on spec without the studio knowing? Zach Cregger: "I had the story in my head of what this movie should be. I knew the beginning, the middle, and the end. I knew everything about this story. Then I went to Constantin, which had the rights to Resident Evil, got a meeting with them, and said, 'Here's what I would do.' I basically told them the story. But I didn't write it because I knew they had to bless it, or it wasn't going to exist. There was no point in writing the script. I pitched it to them pretty thoroughly, and then they said, 'Yeah, let's do it.' So then I wrote it." 🔸 Austin Abrams: The Lead Chosen While Shooting Weapons Q: That happened around the time of Barbarian, well before Weapons. Did you know while making Weapons that Austin was the right actor for Resident Evil? Zach Cregger: "Yeah. While we were shooting Weapons, I knew he was the guy. Then I was in New York editing Weapons when Resident Evil started gaining traction and looking real. It was really fun to text Austin out of the blue and say, 'Read the script.'" Austin Abrams: "I thought he just wanted notes or my thoughts. Genuinely." Zach Cregger: "That was fun. He was like, 'Great, man. No notes.'" Q: Austin's part in Weapons was smaller, but it really popped. Was this a case of watching him on set and in the editing room and realizing you wanted to see him do more? Zach Cregger: "Exactly. It was definitely in the editing bay, but it was also on set. We had such a good vibe, and I knew what he was doing was special. That scene where his character breaks into the house, finds the kids, and runs for his life — he was nailing everything. Everything he was doing was what I needed from my lead in Resident Evil, so I started thinking about him for it while we were on set. There was never really a decision. I didn't go through a list of other actors. By the time Resident Evil became real, it was just, 'Let's go.'" 🔸 Creative Chemistry Between Director and Actor Q: Austin, what makes Zach a filmmaker you want to continue working with? Austin Abrams: "I love his work and his vision. He's great all around. I really couldn't ask to work with a better director. His vision, creativity, and ability to collaborate are such a great combination. It's wonderful to have a director who really sees what he wants and can explain it to you. Eventually, it reached a point where he didn't even need to explain that much anymore. I would know what he was talking about." Zach Cregger: "We're wired very similarly. I think we have similar tastes. There are some actors where you have to map everything out and draw them a map. With Austin, I can say, 'A little more of this,' and he knows what I mean." Austin Abrams: "Also, his humor really makes me laugh. It makes a lot of people laugh, obviously, but it really makes me laugh. I think we have a similar kind of humor." 🔸 Comedy & Horror: Two Sides of the Same Coin Q: What is the connection between comedians and horror filmmakers? You and Jordan Peele both seem to have cracked it in a way that feels fresh. Zach Cregger: "With comedy, you're always trying to imagine the surprising turn you can take. All humor comes from an element of surprise in some way. You're exercising that muscle: How can I zig when they're expecting me to zag? That gives you a good foundation when you move into horror, because horror is also a surprise-based medium. Laughing and screaming are strangely similar. They're both involuntary physiological reactions triggered by timing and tone. Often, I'll watch a horror movie and hear people laughing at something that isn't necessarily funny because they have too much energy, and it has to come out somewhere." 🔸 Stripping Away the Score to Amplify Fear Q: This movie is also more linear than Barbarian or Weapons, and you use considerably less music. Were you deliberately giving yourself different cinematic challenges? Zach Cregger: "It's funny that you picked up on the reduced score. In Barbarian, I laid the score on thick. I did that at the beginning of my edit on Resident Evil. Then, when we reached the final mix, I kept saying, 'Pull all that score out. Let's see what it feels like with nothing.' Inevitably, I felt everyone leaning in more. It became fun to let the scenario be the scenario and not feel the need to hold the audience's hand as much. I think it feels more confident. When you're not holding their hand, they feel like anything could happen. A score is often a filmmaker steering your emotions toward where he wants them to be, and that can be great. I do it all the time. But with tension, letting the audience sit wherever they are can increase the unease." 🔸 Will There Be a Sequel? Q: You already have other projects taking shape. Would you want to remain in the Resident Evil universe after this film? Zach Cregger: "I can't help thinking about other places this story could go. I've got ideas, but this movie hasn't even come out yet. Let's see what happens." Q: Do these movies naturally start generating other possibilities for you? Zach Cregger: "With Barbarian, I've never entertained the idea of a sequel or another movie in that universe because that story is, at its heart, so foul. What makes Barbarian interesting is the unfolding of the narrative, not the subject matter. I don't think I want to write another story about what that movie is about. But this is different. I want to talk about the ending of this movie so badly because there is a big aspect of it that's worth discussing. This is a different situation." 🔸 Addressing Fan Skepticism: "See the Movie" Q: You're clearly a major fan of the games, but there's still a contingent of the audience saying, "This isn't Resident Evil." How do you navigate that skepticism? Zach Cregger: "I feel like I've been on somewhat of an apology tour. I feel like I'm running for office, trying to get these people not to call me a LARPer. Now, I'm just like, 'You know what? See the movie.' If you still feel the same way after you've seen it, then whatever you think is fair. You're going to decide if I'm an actual Resident Evil fan or a fake. What can I say? I think the movie is going to speak for itself." #ResidentEvil #ZachCregger #REBHFun #ResidentEvilMovie

kathyanhy's tweet photo. Zach Cregger & Austin Abrams: The Vision Behind the New Resident Evil movie, Between Horror & the Possibility of a Sequel 🎞️

In an exclusive interview with The Playlist, director Zach Cregger and lead actor Austin Abrams discuss their vision for Resident Evil, the creative process, fan skepticism, and the possibility of expanding the universe:

🔸 Crafting the Project: The Story Before the Script

Q: You mentioned during the Q&A that you already had the entire story in your head. Did you write the screenplay on spec without the studio knowing?

Zach Cregger: "I had the story in my head of what this movie should be. I knew the beginning, the middle, and the end. I knew everything about this story. Then I went to Constantin, which had the rights to Resident Evil, got a meeting with them, and said, 'Here's what I would do.' I basically told them the story. But I didn't write it because I knew they had to bless it, or it wasn't going to exist. There was no point in writing the script. I pitched it to them pretty thoroughly, and then they said, 'Yeah, let's do it.' So then I wrote it."

🔸 Austin Abrams: The Lead Chosen While Shooting Weapons

Q: That happened around the time of Barbarian, well before Weapons. Did you know while making Weapons that Austin was the right actor for Resident Evil?

Zach Cregger: "Yeah. While we were shooting Weapons, I knew he was the guy. Then I was in New York editing Weapons when Resident Evil started gaining traction and looking real. It was really fun to text Austin out of the blue and say, 'Read the script.'"

Austin Abrams: "I thought he just wanted notes or my thoughts. Genuinely."

Zach Cregger: "That was fun. He was like, 'Great, man. No notes.'"

Q: Austin's part in Weapons was smaller, but it really popped. Was this a case of watching him on set and in the editing room and realizing you wanted to see him do more?

Zach Cregger: "Exactly. It was definitely in the editing bay, but it was also on set. We had such a good vibe, and I knew what he was doing was special. That scene where his character breaks into the house, finds the kids, and runs for his life — he was nailing everything. Everything he was doing was what I needed from my lead in Resident Evil, so I started thinking about him for it while we were on set. There was never really a decision. I didn't go through a list of other actors. By the time Resident Evil became real, it was just, 'Let's go.'"

🔸 Creative Chemistry Between Director and Actor

Q: Austin, what makes Zach a filmmaker you want to continue working with?

Austin Abrams: "I love his work and his vision. He's great all around. I really couldn't ask to work with a better director. His vision, creativity, and ability to collaborate are such a great combination. It's wonderful to have a director who really sees what he wants and can explain it to you. Eventually, it reached a point where he didn't even need to explain that much anymore. I would know what he was talking about."

Zach Cregger: "We're wired very similarly. I think we have similar tastes. There are some actors where you have to map everything out and draw them a map. With Austin, I can say, 'A little more of this,' and he knows what I mean."

Austin Abrams: "Also, his humor really makes me laugh. It makes a lot of people laugh, obviously, but it really makes me laugh. I think we have a similar kind of humor."

🔸 Comedy & Horror: Two Sides of the Same Coin

Q: What is the connection between comedians and horror filmmakers? You and Jordan Peele both seem to have cracked it in a way that feels fresh.

Zach Cregger: "With comedy, you're always trying to imagine the surprising turn you can take. All humor comes from an element of surprise in some way. You're exercising that muscle: How can I zig when they're expecting me to zag? That gives you a good foundation when you move into horror, because horror is also a surprise-based medium. Laughing and screaming are strangely similar. They're both involuntary physiological reactions triggered by timing and tone. Often, I'll watch a horror movie and hear people laughing at something that isn't necessarily funny because they have too much energy, and it has to come out somewhere."

🔸 Stripping Away the Score to Amplify Fear

Q: This movie is also more linear than Barbarian or Weapons, and you use considerably less music. Were you deliberately giving yourself different cinematic challenges?

Zach Cregger: "It's funny that you picked up on the reduced score. In Barbarian, I laid the score on thick. I did that at the beginning of my edit on Resident Evil. Then, when we reached the final mix, I kept saying, 'Pull all that score out. Let's see what it feels like with nothing.' Inevitably, I felt everyone leaning in more. It became fun to let the scenario be the scenario and not feel the need to hold the audience's hand as much. I think it feels more confident. When you're not holding their hand, they feel like anything could happen. A score is often a filmmaker steering your emotions toward where he wants them to be, and that can be great. I do it all the time. But with tension, letting the audience sit wherever they are can increase the unease."

🔸 Will There Be a Sequel?

Q: You already have other projects taking shape. Would you want to remain in the Resident Evil universe after this film?

Zach Cregger: "I can't help thinking about other places this story could go. I've got ideas, but this movie hasn't even come out yet. Let's see what happens."

Q: Do these movies naturally start generating other possibilities for you?

Zach Cregger: "With Barbarian, I've never entertained the idea of a sequel or another movie in that universe because that story is, at its heart, so foul. What makes Barbarian interesting is the unfolding of the narrative, not the subject matter. I don't think I want to write another story about what that movie is about. But this is different. I want to talk about the ending of this movie so badly because there is a big aspect of it that's worth discussing. This is a different situation."

🔸 Addressing Fan Skepticism: "See the Movie"

Q: You're clearly a major fan of the games, but there's still a contingent of the audience saying, "This isn't Resident Evil." How do you navigate that skepticism?

Zach Cregger: "I feel like I've been on somewhat of an apology tour. I feel like I'm running for office, trying to get these people not to call me a LARPer. Now, I'm just like, 'You know what? See the movie.' If you still feel the same way after you've seen it, then whatever you think is fair. You're going to decide if I'm an actual Resident Evil fan or a fake. What can I say? I think the movie is going to speak for itself."

#ResidentEvil #ZachCregger #REBHFun #ResidentEvilMovie

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