Details about the upcoming Resident Evil reboot directed by Zach Cregger have been emerging gradually over the past few months, and it appears that the first casting decision may have been made.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Austin Abrams is reportedly a strong contender for a role in the forthcoming film. Abrams, who recently appeared in Wolfs and Penelope in 2024, has previously collaborated with Cregger on the upcoming movie Weapons, scheduled for release in August. Although it is currently uncertain which character Abrams will portray, his youthful appearance could suggest that he might play Leon S. Kennedy, one of the main characters in the series. Leon has appeared in previous live-action films, played by Johann Urb in Resident Evil: Retribution and Avan Jogia in Welcome to Raccoon City, albeit as a supporting character to others like Alice or the Redfields.

Sources close to the project have informed THR that Cregger’s adaptation will incorporate elements of a “wilderness survival thriller” while maintaining its horror theme. The primary selling point of this new Resident Evil film is its faithfulness to the original games, so whatever that entails, Abrams and his character will be at the center of the story. Further information about Resident Evil and its cast will be revealed ahead of its scheduled release on September 18, 2026.

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