Leaks show Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil film will have a winter setting
The streets of Prague have transformed into a snow-covered war zone — but it’s not the Czech winter arriving early. Production has officially begun on Zach Cregger’s new Resident Evil film, and the first major set piece has blanketed the city in artificial snow for a week of high-octane, nighttime action.
According to The Prague Reporter, filming kicked off a few weeks back and will continue through January, with the Weapons director leading what’s being described as a darker, more faithful return to the horror roots of Capcom’s beloved video game series, getting back to evoking the creeping dread and atmosphere of the games.
A Snow-Covered Raccoon City
The area has been made to resemble Raccoon City, the doomed Midwestern metropolis that serves as ground zero for the viral outbreak in Capcom’s game series. Street signage and props hinted at the familiar setting — including a city map, a bus stop labeled with a Raccoon City Metro logo, and even a rebranded restaurant: Prague’s Indian by Nature was transformed into the Oak Street Diner.
Cars on set bore Colorado license plates, suggesting the filmmakers are grounding Raccoon City somewhere in the U.S. Rockies. One police vehicle identified as belonging to the Martin County Sheriff’s Department (a fictional jurisdiction) was also seen on set.
City notices distributed to residents confirmed the production’s intent to film heavy action sequences from 3 p.m. to 3 a.m. nightly, requesting locals keep indoor lights off to preserve the dark, cinematic mood. “The filming will involve gunfire, fast driving, and other action sequences,” the notice read. “We understand this may be disturbing, so these scenes will be carried out with respect for nighttime quiet hours.”
Czech Republic has long been a favorite destination for international productions. Prague in particular has doubled for numerous U.S. cities — from Mission: Impossible to Spider-Man: Far From Home. The film has also been reportedly awarded CZK 191M (approximately $9.1M) in support from the Czech Audiovisual Fund, with a total estimated local spend nearing $36M. That makes it one of the largest international productions currently filming in the region.
A New Vision for Resident Evil
Director Zach Cregger says his take is said to be a ‘love letter’ to the games — a self-contained story that still exists within the same continuity as Capcom’s universe.
“I’m following the rules, but I’m not claiming any key, canon characters because we have those in the games.” That means Resident Evil fan favorites like Leon Kennedy or Jill Valentine won’t appear — but the world they inhabit will feel familiar.
The film stars Austin Abrams, who previously appeared in Cregger’s film Weapons. Joining him are Zach Cherry (Severance), Kali Reis (True Detective), Johnno Wilson (Twisted Metal), and Paul Walter Hauser (Fantastic Four, Richard Jewell).
Full plot details are under wraps, but Cregger describe it as a ‘real-time foot journey’ similar to the early games. Cregger has teased that it’s a ‘rock-’em-sock-’em’ experience that steadily plunges ‘deeper and deeper into the depths of hell’.
Veteran cinematographer Dariusz Wolski (Alien: Covenant, The Martian, Pirates of the Caribbean) serves as director of photography.
The film is co-produced by Sony’s TriStar Pictures, Constantin Film, and PlayStation Productions, and is slated for theatrical release on September 18, 2026.
For more on Resident Evil and other movies, check out our films section
