The horror genre, often a fertile ground for new talent, continually unearths visionary filmmakers who blend commercial appeal with experimental flair. Recent examples include Curry Barker (Obsession), Kane Parsons (Backrooms), Danny Philippou and Michael Philippou (La Main, Substitution – Bring Her Back), Jane Schoenbrun (I Saw the TV Glow, Teenage Sex And Death At Camp Miasma), and Sébastien Vanicek (Vermines, Evil Dead Burn).

Zach Cregger is no exception. After an early career rooted in comedy, the filmmaker truly made his mark with the highly successful Barbare. Following that, he experienced further massive success with Évanouis, which was reportedly produced for under $40 million and went on to gross around $152 million domestically and $270 million worldwide. This considerable triumph has opened doors for Cregger, allowing him to tackle larger budgets and a beloved franchise: Resident Evil.

© Sony

Resident Evil: A Standalone Franchise Endeavor?

Much like David F. Sandberg (transitioning from Dans le noir to Shazam!) and Jon Watts (from Clown to Spider-Man: Homecoming), Zach Cregger is now venturing into franchise filmmaking. However, it seems the American director and screenwriter isn't planning to become a regular fixture in the franchise machine, like directing a future Marvel film or a live-action Disney remake. He recently shared his perspective with Deadline:

**"I've never been approached by another franchise. Well, maybe I have, but it will never happen because I've been very clear: I won't risk it. I'm doing [*Resident Evil*], and that's enough for me. I'm not going to tackle other franchises, simply because I'm a screenwriter, and I want to write what I want to write. I don't want to write something where I constantly have to juggle different elements to meet certain requirements. I just want to enjoy myself."**

Austin Abrams in Resident Evil When you run from the industry's rules

He continued, elaborating on his unique connection to Resident Evil:

**"The only reason I think Resident Evil is a good fit for me is that I'm passionate about the games, I love the story I've imagined from these games, and I'm making this film for myself. I find this film successful, and I hope fans will like it, because I'm a fan myself, and I'm satisfied. I've made the Resident Evil film I always dreamed of, with a clear mind and conscience, without feeling exploited by any industry."**

It's worth noting that last year, Zach Cregger seemed interested in a different license beyond Resident Evil. The filmmaker expressed a desire to develop a "completely original" film set within the DC universe, but one that wouldn't be a superhero movie. Whether it's a franchise or not, we can only hope that the director manages to maintain his creative freedom against the shifting tides of the industry. Resident Evil is slated for release in French cinemas on September 16.