Resident Evil Reboot Eyeing First Cast Member With Walking Dead Alum

With the film taking shape very quickly, Zach Cregger's Resident Evil reboot may have already found its first star. The Barbarian writer/director was announced to be helming a new take on the long-running Capcom horror video game series, which is said to be going back to the horror roots of the games in favor of the action of Milla Jovovich's movies. Within two months of its announcement, the Resident Evil reboot was acquired by Sony Pictures and set for a September 18, 2026 release date.

The Hollywood Reporter has brought word that Austin Abrams is currently being eyed as the first cast member for Cregger's Resident Evil franchise reboot. Abrams, who was previously seen in AMC's long-running Walking Dead, has not yet finalized his deal, and no indication was given as to who he might be in talks to play. Sources report that production is eyeing a Summer 2025 start, with the co-writer/director said to currently be in the process of location scouting in Europe.

What Abrams' Negotiations Mean For The Resident Evil Reboot

Cregger Looks To Have Had A Great First Experience With HIm

While his deal may not yet be set, Cregger eyeing Abrams as the first cast member for his Resident Evil reboot is a pretty bold statement of how the filmmaker views the rising star. The duo most recently partnered for Cregger's third directorial effort, the upcoming horror-epic Weapons, which recently got a promising release update from Warner Bros. as it was bumped up by a full five months. Though it's unclear how big his role will be in the film compared to Josh Brolin, Julia Garner, Alden Ehrenreich and Benedict Wong, his work in it likely boosted Cregger's confidence in him.

With Abrams being eyed to lead the film, the curiosity now points to who Cregger will look to fill out the rest of his Resident Evil roster. Though only in it for nine episodes, the co-writer/director may look to follow similar suit from Abrams' tenure in The Walking Dead by casting others familiar with the zombie genre. It may not necessarily be a necessity for Cregger, but it could certainly lend some credence to audiences that there's a recognition of the genre's past and its influence on the games.

The other major curiosity to come from Abrams' potential casting is which Resident Evil character he might play in the upcoming reboot. Though not directly confirmed by the studio as of yet, it's been reported that Cregger is looking to stay true to the Capcom games, which could see him adapt one of the first three games for his story. If that's the case, with Abrams being the first to enter negotiations for the film, he could very well be in talks to play iconic protagonist, Leon S. Kennedy.

Our Take On Abrams' Resident Evil Casting Talks

There's Another Great Role He Could Play

While he could certainly be a great choice to play Leon in his bright-eyed rookie days, I think Abrams could actually be a better choice to play infamous villain, Albert Wesker, in the upcoming Resident Evil reboot. He's showcased a haunting antagonist side in everything from The Walking Dead to Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, and while he may not physically be the most obvious choice for the part, I think he would perfectly nail the persona.