Hold on, Zach Cregger is actually a sports expert!

Weapons and Barbarian director Zach Cregger has faced some criticism from Resident Evil fans regarding his upcoming film adaptation, mainly because it doesn’t feature any characters from Capcom’s games and he may have misstepped on some lore details in an interview. However, even without Leon Kennedy making an appearance, Cregger seems to grasp the essence of the series he’s putting his own twist on, capturing both the chilling atmosphere of the games and the hilariously frustrating moments that come with being a less-than-skilled player.

In a brief interview, Cregger shared his vision for the film, emphasizing that he aims to portray the experience of an average person suddenly thrust into a Resident Evil scenario, rather than a seasoned survivor like Jill Valentine or Chris Redfield.

“I had this idea for a story set in the Resident Evil universe, and it’s kind of like me—if I were dropped into a Resident Evil game. I’m terrible with guns. I wouldn’t know how any of them work. I would miss 99% of my shots,” he explained.

The interview highlights this concept with a clip of Bryan, the new survivor in the film, attempting to shoot a lock off a door and missing, wasting valuable ammo. This moment perfectly encapsulates the universal Resident Evil experience, especially in the earlier games, where resource management is key. This year’s Resident Evil Requiem showcased this well with newcomer Grace, whose gameplay focused heavily on managing resources while navigating the chaos of zombie encounters.

While many fans are disappointed that the film isn’t directly adapting a specific Resident Evil game or including its iconic characters, it’s worth noting that a straightforward recreation of a beloved game can lead to greater disappointment than exploring a fresh narrative. Resident Evil hits theaters on September 18.