Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil Reboot Latest A+ Casting Could See A Classic Character’s Return

Cards on the table: I’m still worried about Resident Evil’s new cinematic reboot. It’s not that I’m pre-emptively dismissive of director Zach Cregger’s 2026 movie, but rather I’m guarding my fan-fueled heart from any potential disappointments ahead. For now though, I’ll allow myself to be a little more optimistic about the latest attempt to make Capcom’s legendary franchise a cinematic thrill ride. And you can thank some promising casting news for that ray of undead sunshine.  

Paul Walter Hauser Has Joined The 2026 Resident Evil Reboot

News coming out of Deadline has revealed that Resident Evil will now dangle Paul Walter Hauser in front of the Umbrella Corporation’s nightmarish creations. That makes two actors on deck to star in Sony’s third theatrical bite at the apple – as Weapons co-star Austin Abrams was previously drafted into survival horror combat. Between The Naked Gun and The Fantastic Four: First Steps, the summer has belonged to Mr. Hauser and his comedic timing.

I came into this year loving this dude, and both of those tentpoles reinforced my belief that if his name show up in the credits, I’m staying seated. That being said, while Resident Evil doesn’t seem to be based on any game in particular, I think Paul Walter Hauser’s casting could see him playing a well known/beloved character from the minds of creators Shinji Mikami and Tokuro Fujiwara. So let’s go ahead and ask that question that probably popped into your mind the moment you heard the news. 

Could Barry Burton Be A Part Of The New Reboot? 

When talking up his Resident Evil concept with Inverse in August, Zach Cregger promised that he was telling a story “outside of the characters of the games.” That’s a smart move when it comes to a fresh take on the games that the Barbarian mastermind knows and loves. However, that comment seemed to address the hopes that we may see Leon S. Kennedy, or other familiar faces, as the leads. 

Knowing that Paul Walter Hauser is an exemplary actor, whether he’s leading or supporting, I wonder if he may have been selected to play Barry Burton. A S.T.A.R.S team member from the original Resident Evil, he survived the events of the Spencer Mansion, and made a handful of appearances throughout future games. So there’s a chance that Barry could be brought back to help Austin Abrams’ presumed protagonist through his night from Hell; if Zach Cregger feels he’s somehow exempt from his guidelines. 

I understand it’s an outside take, and I wouldn’t be disappointed if I was wrong. But even a movie like the next Resident Evil needs to have some familiar faces. With Barry Burton only appearing in Resident Evil: Retribution, and played by Naked Gun co-star Kevin Durand, this could be an opportunity to flesh out a character that’s outside of the usually expected stars of S.T.A.R.S.

Keep in mind, this is a bunch of speculation on my part. So I could either be really close to the truth, or so far away I’d need to send for a rescue helicopter. In any case, having someone like Paul Walter Hauser joining Zach Cregger for a Resident Evil picture is always good news – no matter who his eventual character may be. (And we all know how good Mr. Hauser is at teasing a “mystery character” in a big budget tentpole.)

As Resident Evil makes its way into production within the next couple of weeks, that September 18, 2026 is going to keep taunting those who welcome it with open arms. We’ll probably see what’s biting in the darkness soon enough, as this is the sort of project that always draws the attention of fans who want to know more. In the meantime, you can stream the 2002 original starring Milla Jovovich, through a Starz subscription.

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