'Resident Evil' director says Austin Abrams narrowly avoided fatal on-set stunt accident

Resident Evil director Zach Cregger has revealed that star Austin Abrams came dangerously close to being seriously injured while filming a practical stunt for the upcoming horror reboot.

Speaking during a recent Q&A, Cregger recalled a sequence featured briefly in the film's trailer in which Abrams' character runs through a street as zombies leap from rooftops and explosions erupt around him.

Rather than relying on visual effects, the filmmaker wanted the moment to be created using practical effects. The sequence involved 150-pound body-sized blood bags suspended from cranes, which were timed to fall and explode around Abrams as he sprinted through the set.

According to Cregger, the stunt required extensive rehearsals and precise choreography, but one of the heavy props came alarmingly close to striking the actor.

"It would've killed him," Cregger said. "If he had been one step to the right, he would've died."

Despite the close call, the director praised the stunt team's work and said the ambitious sequence ultimately made it into the final cut of the film.

"It's in the movie, so it's f***ing worth it," he added, explaining that the experience reinforced the collaborative nature of filmmaking and left him proud of what the crew accomplished.

The comments quickly sparked debate online, with many fans criticizing the filmmaker for suggesting the near-fatal risk was justified. Several social media users questioned why an actor would be placed in such a dangerous situation, particularly when visual effects could have been used instead.

Cregger's Resident Evil stars Austin Abrams as Bryan, a medical courier forced to fight for survival after a sudden zombie outbreak occurs during a routine delivery. The cast also includes Zach Cherry, Kali Reis, Paul Walter Hauser and Johnno Wilson.

Co-written by Cregger and Shay Hatten, the film marks the latest adaptation of Capcom's iconic survival horror franchise. Resident Evil is set to hit theaters on Sept. 18, 2026.