Resident Evil director Zach Cregger is already planning future sequels.

Weapons director Zach Cregger is taking a fresh direction with his new adaptation of Resident Evil. Instead of simply rehashing the characters and storyline from Capcom’s iconic survival-horror series, Cregger aims to capture the essence of what it feels like to be trapped in one of Resident Evil’s most harrowing scenarios. The film centers on a beleaguered medical courier, portrayed by Austin Abrams, as he navigates a perilous journey through Raccoon City, now overrun with zombies and other terrifying creatures.

While this premise might not seem like the usual launchpad for a franchise, the potential for a sequel to Resident Evil is already on the horizon.

A key sign that Resident Evil could lead to further installments is the film’s promising early box office performance. Reports indicate that the movie is on track for a record-breaking opening weekend, projected to earn between $35 million and $50 million domestically. This is a positive sign for the studio, especially considering that the last entry in the series, 2021’s Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City, wrapped up its theatrical run with a total of $41.9 million worldwide.

Cregger himself seems open to the idea of a sequel. In a conversation, he mentioned that he initially thought his journey with Resident Evil would be a “one and done” experience with Capcom’s intellectual property. However, after finishing the film, he found himself brimming with new ideas for the franchise.

When asked if he was aiming to launch a new trilogy, Cregger admitted, “That was not what I was thinking when I was making the movie. I was thinking one and done. Now that it’s completed, I can’t help myself. This is just the way my brain works. I’ve already got other ideas of what could happen.”

He also noted that while his next project is already lined up and isn’t related to Resident Evil, he remains open to possibilities. “Who knows? Who can say? Anything could happen.”

Resident Evil hits theaters on September 18. Cregger’s upcoming film, an original sci-fi narrative titled The Flood, is set for release on August 11, 2028, and is being produced by Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment. Cregger describes it as “maybe the best thing I ever wrote.”