Resident Evil director Zach Cregger has seen all the comments about the snow and iPhones in his new movie, but he said he’s got a good reason for why he “took liberties” with the lore.
Cregger has spent some of his time at San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) 2026 celebrating the release of his movie’s new trailer. He’s also used his presence at the show to talk more about why his version of the Raccoon City Incident looks different from what fans of games like Resident Evil 2 and 3 might have expected.
“I take liberties,” he told IGN. “It’s not 1998. It takes place in modern times. I know that, during the events of Resident Evil 2, it’s not snowing, and yet, in this movie, I thought it would be better for the story and for the visual, you know, whatever I’m doing, if it was snowy. It’s going to be a better movie for it.
“I am not trying to adapt a video game. I’m not using the characters from the games. I’m not telling a story that the games tell because I’m not going to be able to do it better than the games. The games are so well executed, and to me, Leon and Claire and these characters, they exist so perfectly in the games that anyone I cast and any difference that I do with them would be, probably, to the detriment of what I was trying to do.”
Most fans would agree; mixing the director behind Barbarian and Weapons into the Resident Evil universe feels like a recipe for success. Although the premiere of its first trailer largely kept the hype momentum going, it’s also safe to say it’s picked up a few critics along the way.
Some were quick to point out that, while the original lore saw the Raccoon City Incident take place in the late ’90s in a rainy town on the brink of destruction, Cregger’s film seemed to be set in a more modern, wintry timeline. Despite a plethora of references to elements and moments that should feel familiar to fans, the criticism from the more skeptical watchers has only simmered the last few months.
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