Deadline reports that Paul Walter Hauser (The Naked Gun, Cruella) has officially signed on for Zach Cregger’s highly anticipated Resident Evil movie.

Hauser will star alongside Austin Abrams (Wolfs, the upcoming Whalefall), who previously worked with Cregger on Weapons.

Cregger’s Resident Evil is set to hit theaters on September 18, 2026, marking the franchise’s big-screen return after seven live-action films and a short-lived Netflix series. This time, Constantin Film and PlayStation Productions are aiming to restore the franchise to its survival-horror roots.

While plot details are being kept under wraps, Cregger co-wrote the script with Shay Hatten (Army of the Dead, Day Shift). Early reports suggest the film will lean heavily into the terrifying atmosphere of the original games while still carving its own identity.

“I am a gigantic Resident Evil fan—I’ve played them all,” Cregger said. “I’m not trying to be completely obedient to the lore of the games. I want to tell a story that feels authentic to the experience of playing them.”

He also teased a darker, more relentless approach than his previous horror hits Barbarian and Weapons:

“This movie follows a person from point A to point B. It’s like a real-time descent into Hell. It’s a love letter to the games. Whether I had the IP or not, this is a story I’d want to tell. It just so happens I get to do it with Resident Evil.”

The film is being produced and co-financed by Constantin Film, with Robert Kulzer producing alongside Vertigo Entertainment’s Roy Lee and Miri Yoon, and PlayStation Productions’ Asad Qizilbash and Carter Swan. Constantin and Davis Films’ Victor Hadida will executive produce.