Paul Walter Hauser in ‘Americana’. Photo: Lionsgate.
Preview:
Paul Walter Hauser is set to join the ensemble for the upcoming ‘Resident Evil’ film. He will be joined by Austin Abrams in the cast. The movie will be co-written and directed by Zach Cregger.
Despite the immense popularity of Capcom’s ‘Resident Evil’ game series, its adaptations for both the big and small screens have experienced varying degrees of success. While Paul WS Anderson’s film series offered some enjoyable moments, they eventually overstayed their welcome. More recently, the Netflix TV series adaptation failed to impress dedicated fans.
Consequently, there’s significant anticipation and pressure on Zach Cregger, known for directing ‘Barbarian’ and ‘Weapons’, as he develops his unique vision for the franchise. The casting process is now underway, with Deadline reporting that Paul Walter Hauser will star alongside Austin Abrams in the new film.
Related Article: Movie Review: ‘Weapons’
What’s the narrative for this new ‘Resident Evil’ installment?
Zach Cregger (director, ‘Resident Evil’) at CinemaCon 2025 for Sony Pictures at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace on March 31, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo by Stewart Cook/Sony Pictures via Getty Images.
While precise details regarding how Cregger – who co-wrote the screenplay with Shay Hatten of ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ fame – plans to translate the games remain under wraps, he has offered a few insights.
Here’s what Cregger shared with Inverse regarding his approach:
“I am the biggest worshiper of the games, so I’m telling a story that is a love letter to the games and follows the rules of the games. It is obedient to the lore of the games, it’s just a different story. I’m not going to tell Leon’s story, because Leon’s story is told in the games. [Fans] already have that.”
And during CinemaCon this year, he articulated the core concept as follows:
“It’s built in the spirit of those games and follows one central protagonist from point A to point B, as they descend deeper into hell.”
Where else can audiences see Paul Walter Hauser?
(L to R) Paul Walter Hauser plays Ed Hocken Jr. and Liam Neeson plays Frank Drebin Jr. in ‘The Naked Gun’ from Paramount Pictures.
Hauser has had a busy period recently, having appeared in the independent feature ‘Americana’ alongside Sydney Sweeney. On a larger scale, he was also featured as Mole Man in ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ and portrayed Police Squad chief Ed Hocken in ‘The Naked Gun’. Looking ahead, he is scheduled to appear in the musical biopic ‘Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere’, which is slated for release in cinemas on October 24th.
When is the new ‘Resident Evil’ expected to hit theaters?
Sony has already designated September 18th, 2026, as the release date for the movie, indicating their confidence that Cregger will deliver another successful horror title.
Writer/Director Zach Cregger on the set of New Line Cinema’s ‘Weapons,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Quantrell Colbert. Copyright: © 2025 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Other Paul Walter Hauser Movies and TV Shows:
Buy Paul Walter Hauser Movies on Amazon