San Diego Comic-Con 2026 brought a fresh wave of anticipation for the next live-action Resident Evil movie. Director Zach Cregger and star Austin Abrams sat down with IGN during the convention to talk about the adaptation, the creature designs, and Cregger’s personal ranking of the top five games from the long-running survival horror franchise.

The appearance was one of the few public opportunities to hear directly from the creative team behind the upcoming film. While the panel did not reveal a release date or specific plot points, Cregger and Abrams offered a glimpse into how the movie is being shaped — and which entries in the game series are informing its direction.

A filmmaker’s personal list

During the interview, Cregger shared his top five favorite Resident Evil games. The exact list has not been widely circulated from the panel, and the filmmaker’s selections were not disclosed in the available briefing. What is clear is that the ranking was offered as a personal, rather than definitive, take — a show of enthusiasm from a director whose own work in horror (notably the tense, survival-oriented film Barbarian) aligns with the franchise’s strengths.

The gesture of listing favorites is common among Resident Evil fans, and hearing it from the director of an upcoming film adds a layer of meaning. Cregger’s choices likely reflect the games he feels capture the essence of survival horror — resource scarcity, oppressive atmosphere, and clever enemy design.

Monster design and the film’s direction

Abrams and Cregger also discussed the creature design for the new movie. Given that Resident Evil has a deep catalog of iconic monsters — from the lumbering Tyrant to the insectoid hunters and the shambling zombies — translating those into live-action requires balance. Cregger’s background in horror suggests a focus on practical effects and grounded scares, though no specific design decisions were detailed in the briefing.

Monster design is a recurring point of discussion for any Resident Evil adaptation. Previous films in the series (both the Paul W.S. Anderson saga and the 2021 reboot Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City) took different approaches. Cregger’s take remains largely under wraps, but the fact that he and Abrams spent time talking about it at Comic-Con indicates it’s a core element of the production.

Austin Abrams in the lead

Abrams, known for his roles in Euphoria and The Walking Dead, is attached to star in the film. His casting was announced previously, but Comic-Con 2026 marked one of the first times he addressed the project publicly. Abrams’ previous genre work — particularly the tense survival scenarios in The Walking Dead — makes him a sensible fit for a Resident Evil protagonist. During the IGN interview, he spoke about the physical demands of the role and the collaborative process with Cregger.

The partnership backdrop

The IGN presentation was held in partnership with several brands: Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2, Alienware, and BRISK x Splatoon Raiders. While these sponsorships are typical for large convention panels, they also highlight the cross-promotional nature of Comic-Con, where gaming, hardware, and film marketing converge. The presence of Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2 — a cooperative shooter set in the Alien universe — is a natural fit for an audience interested in survival horror and sci-fi action.

Context for the film

The new Resident Evil movie has been in development for several years. Cregger was attached as director after his breakout success with Barbarian, a film that earned praise for its controlled pacing and effective use of space and sound. That sensibility could serve a Resident Evil adaptation well. The franchise’s early games, particularly the original 1996 title and its 2002 GameCube remake, rely on slow-burn tension, camera angles that conceal threats, and limited inventory management — all hallmarks that a strong horror director could translate to film.

Previous attempts to adapt Resident Evil for the big screen have been commercially successful but critically mixed. The six-film series starring Milla Jovovich leaned heavily into action spectacle, while Welcome to Raccoon City tried a more faithful, game-accurate approach but struggled with pacing and character development.

Cregger’s film faces the challenge of satisfying both longtime fans of the games and general audiences. His willingness to rank his favorite games publicly suggests a personal investment in the source material — a detail that may reassure fans hoping for a more reverent adaptation.

What remains unknown

At this stage, concrete details about the new Resident Evil film are sparse. The cast beyond Abrams is unconfirmed. The story’s relationship to the games — whether it follows a specific entry or invents a new scenario — has not been announced. And of course, the exact rankings from Cregger’s top five list were not shared in the available source material.

That lack of detail may be intentional. Comic-Con appearances often serve as early teases, meant to build momentum rather than deliver full reveals. Cregger and Abrams’ conversation with IGN was likely one piece of a larger campaign leading up to a proper trailer or gameplay-inspired reveal.

Why the ranking matters

Even without the specific list, Cregger’s decision to rank his favorite Resident Evil games during a press appearance signals a director who respects the core material. In an era where video game adaptations are finally gaining critical traction — with shows like The Last of Us and films like The Super Mario Bros. Movie proving that faithful adaptations can succeed — a director’s familiarity with the source material is more important than ever.

Cregger’s ranking, whatever it contained, is a small but meaningful gesture. It tells fans that the person behind the camera has spent time with these games. That alone is worth noting.

Looking ahead

As San Diego Comic-Con 2026 settles, the new Resident Evil film remains one of the more intriguing horror projects on the horizon. Zach Cregger and Austin Abrams have shown they are willing to engage with the fandom directly. The next step will be a proper trailer, a release date, and perhaps a fuller list of Cregger’s favorite games.

For now, we know the director and star are excited, the monster design is being discussed, and the franchise’s legacy is very much on Cregger’s mind.