Resident Evil movie near-miss: Director Zach Cregger reveals Austin Abrams almost killed during rooftop explosion scene

Director Zach Cregger has confirmed a near-fatal mishap during the filming of a major action sequence for the upcoming Resident Evil movie, telling attendees at a footage screening that one practical effect detonated inches from lead actor Austin Abrams. IGN first reported Cregger's remarks made during a post-screening Q&A. The sequence in question — glimpsed in both a reveal teaser released in April and the new trailer — follows Abrams's character Bryan sprinting down a street as bodies fall and explode from rooftops on either side. Cregger said the crew deliberately relied on practical effects rather than visual effects to preserve visceral impact: they rigged body-sized, blood-filled bags to cranes, rehearsed precise timing for drops, and filmed with a camera car chasing the running actor. Cregger recounted that a timed release went off prematurely, causing a 150-pound bag to miss Abrams by only inches. He characterized the incident as extremely dangerous and said the actor's position and timing were the only things that prevented a fatal outcome. Cregger added the shot made it into the finished film but confirmed the production did not attempt to repeat the hazardous take. Beyond the stunt, Cregger described a low point on set during a remote, nocturnal shoot in the Czech Republic involving an animal scene. He said wrangling an aggressive dog in freezing conditions while battling exhaustion from extended night shoots left him physically and mentally spent. Cregger framed the moment as a common production experience for filmmakers who endure grueling circumstances to achieve a desired cinematic result. Resident Evil, co-written by Zach Cregger and Shay Hatten, is set to open in theaters on September 18, 2026. The cast includes Austin Abrams alongside Zach Cherry, Kali Reis, and Paul Walter Hauser. The film adapts elements from Capcom's long-running survival-horror franchise that has appeared across PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo platforms over the years; fans tracking Capcom announcements often follow channels such as Nintendo Direct and the Nintendo eShop for related game news and re-releases. Cregger's on-stage disclosures provide a rare, candid look at the risks of large-scale practical filmmaking and underscore the production's emphasis on tactile effects to create immediacy for audiences when Resident Evil arrives next year.