Paul Walter Hauser Joins Zach Cregger’s ‘Resident Evil’

Paul Walter Hauser Added to the Cast of Zach Cregger’s ‘Resident Evil’

The ‘Naked Gun’ actor joins Austin Abrams in the new take on the horror video game from the filmmaker behind the likes of ‘Barbarian’ and ‘Weapons’.

Paul Walter Hauser in 'Americana'. Photo: Lionsgate.

Preview:

Paul Walter Hauser is joining the cast of the new ‘Resident Evil’ movie.
Austin Abrams is also starring.
Zach Cregger has co-written and will direct.

Even given the massive popularity of the Capcom game series, ‘Resident Evil’s treatment on screens big and small has been hit or miss. Paul WS Anderson’s movies had their fun elements, but even they outstayed their welcome. And the more recent Netflix TV treatment didn’t exactly delight fans.

Resident Evil

Not Yet RatedHorror Thriller

Release Date: Sep 18, 2026

Starring: Austin Abrams, Paul Walter Hauser

There is more expectation and pressure therefore on ‘Barbarian’ and ‘Weapons’ director Zach Cregger, who has his own take in the works. And he’s moving ahead with recruiting the cast, as Deadline reports that Paul Walter Hauser is joining Austin Abrams in the new movie.

What’s the story of this new ‘Resident Evil’?

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.

The exact details of how the director –– who has written the script with ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’s Shay Hatten –– will adapt the games, but he has at least opened up a little.

Here’s what Cregger told Inverse about 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 at CinemaCon this year he described the concept as this:

“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 we 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 summer, starring in indie pic ‘Americana’ opposite Sydney Sweeney.

On a bigger scale, he’s also been seen in ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ (as Mole Man) and ‘The Naked Gun’ (playing Police Squad chief Ed Hocken).

Coming up, he has a role in musical biopic ‘Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere’ due in cinemas on October 24th.

When will ‘Resident Evil’ be in theaters?

Sony has already staked out September 18th, 2026 as the release slot for the movie, clearly hoping that Cregger will deliver another horror winner.

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.