‘Like Frodo Going Into Mordor’: Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil ‘Feels Like 1 Gigantic Sequence’ Following an ‘Everyman’ Character Burdened by a Sacred Mission
Director Zach Cregger is charting a unconventional course for the upcoming Resident Evil film adaptation, prioritizing character-driven storytelling over franchise fan service. Rather than adapting established characters like Leon S. Kennedy or Claire Redfield from Capcom’s survival horror series, Cregger has created an original protagonist—an ordinary man named Bryan (played by Austin Abrams) thrust into extraordinary circumstances.
Cregger describes the film as feeling like “one gigantic sequence,” comparing Bryan’s harrowing journey to Frodo’s quest in The Lord of the Rings. This thematic comparison emphasizes the weight of responsibility and unlikely heroism, with an everyday person burdened by a sacred mission rather than a combat-trained operative. The approach represents a significant departure from traditional Resident Evil adaptations, which typically center on action-hardened protagonists.
By focusing on an “everyman” character, Cregger aims to generate vulnerability and tension through personal struggle rather than tactical expertise. This creative decision positions the film as a grounded, character-focused entry in the franchise’s cinematic history, potentially allowing audiences to experience the Resident Evil universe through the eyes of someone without survival training—amplifying fear and stakes through an ordinary perspective confronting extraordinary horrors.