Overview

• Director Zach Cregger says he won’t be completely obedient to game lore and aims to evoke the franchise’s original survival-horror tone
• A self-described lifelong fan who’s played every entry, Cregger insists he isn’t breaking major franchise rules
• He expects negative online reactions no matter his creative choices and is bracing for fan backlash
• Production preparations are underway in Europe for a summer shoot ahead of the film’s September 18, 2026 theatrical debut
• Industry reports indicate Austin Abrams is in talks to play an original character named Bryan rather than an established protagonist