Bandwagon Nerds News Report (9/19/2026): Resident Evil Explodes, Lollipop Goes Hollywood & Ritchson Eyes Helldivers

Resident Evil posts franchise-record previews, Lollipop Chainsaw gets a movie and Alan Ritchson circles Sony’s Helldivers adaptation.

Resident Evil may finally have figured out how to turn video-game credibility into blockbuster movie business.

Zach Cregger’s reboot posted the largest Thursday preview total in franchise history and is now headed toward a potentially record-setting opening. Meanwhile, Lollipop Chainsaw has become the latest game headed toward Hollywood and Alan Ritchson is circling Sony’s Helldivers movie after Jason Momoa exited.

It’s the Bandwagon Nerds News Report for September 19, 2026!

Resident Evil Posts a Franchise-Record Preview

Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil earned $8.8 million from Thursday previews, the largest preview figure in the history of the film franchise. Current projections have the reboot heading toward a domestic opening above $50 million, which would also establish a new series record.

The encouraging part for Sony is that this is not simply recognition driving curiosity. Early discussion around the movie has emphasized that Cregger moved the adaptation back toward horror rather than recreating the action-heavy identity of the previous film series.

Resident Evil has already proven that its name can support movies that barely resemble the games. A $50 million opening for something audiences perceive as closer to the franchise’s horror roots would demonstrate that fidelity and commercial success were never mutually exclusive.

Lollipop Chainsaw Is Getting a Live-Action Movie

Lollipop Chainsaw is being developed as a live-action feature following the announcement of Lollipop Chainsaw 2: Back2Back earlier this week. The movie adds another layer to the revival of a game that spent years existing primarily as a cult favorite.

The timing makes sense because the property is suddenly active again instead of being adapted entirely on nostalgia. A sequel gives the movie something current to connect with, while the original game already supplies the kind of exaggerated visual identity Hollywood usually tries to manufacture during adaptation.

The challenge will be preserving the ridiculous tone without turning everything into self-aware parody. Lollipop Chainsaw works because it commits completely to its nonsense rather than constantly apologizing for it.

Alan Ritchson Is in Talks for Helldivers

Reacher star Alan Ritchson is in negotiations to lead Sony’s Helldivers movie, with Justin Lin attached to direct. Ritchson would replace Jason Momoa, who is no longer involved with the project.

Ritchson makes immediate sense for a property built around enormous soldiers enthusiastically spreading “managed democracy” through overwhelming firepower. His physical presence already fits the image, while Reacher has demonstrated that he can play extreme competence without completely losing the humor surrounding it.

The larger creative question is whether Helldivers becomes a straight military science-fiction movie or understands that the satire is the point. Remove that layer and there are dozens of interchangeable alien-war stories left underneath.

Hans Zimmer Is Avoiding John Williams With Harry Potter

Hans Zimmer says the music for HBO’s Harry Potter series will be deliberately different from John Williams’ iconic work on the movies. Zimmer described the earlier scores as something the new series should respect rather than attempt to reproduce.

That is probably the only defensible strategy. The original Hedwig’s Theme is so inseparable from Harry Potter that attempting another version would immediately invite comparison with one of the most recognizable film scores of the last several decades.

The television series already carries the burden of retelling familiar material with new actors and greater running time. Giving the music its own identity at least provides one major creative element that is not trying to reproduce the movies.

Crawl Sequel Gets a Summer 2027 Date

Paramount has scheduled its new Crawl sequel for July 2027, with Mason Gooding and Emily Rudd starring. The studio is also positioning Heart Eyes 2 as part of its developing horror slate.

Crawl remains one of those movies where the concept matters more than mythology. People do not need an elaborate cinematic universe explaining why dangerous alligators and flooding are a bad combination.

That simplicity is useful for a sequel because the filmmakers can change characters and circumstances without pretending every installment needs to connect to an increasingly complicated franchise timeline.

The CW Turns 20

The CW marked its 20th anniversary Friday, with network president Brad Schwartz describing the channel as continuing to evolve for audiences whose viewing habits bear little resemblance to the television environment in which the network launched in 2006.

Twenty years is a strange milestone for a network that often still feels associated with a particular era of teen dramas and superhero television. The CW survived the collapse of the WB and UPN, built identities around shows ranging from Gossip Girl to Arrow and has since undergone another transformation under Nexstar.

The challenge now is whether a traditional broadcast network can create a distinct identity when younger viewers increasingly think about individual shows and streaming platforms rather than channels.

Japan’s Physical Game Sales Stay Nintendo Heavy

Famitsu’s latest Japanese retail data continued showing the strength of Nintendo hardware and software during the week ending September 13. The numbers arrive during a period when Switch 2 is also receiving an unusually large number of simultaneous third-party releases rather than relying almost entirely on Nintendo’s own games.

That combination is important because Nintendo already knew how to sell its own software. The harder challenge was convincing publishers that expensive multiplatform projects deserved Switch versions alongside PlayStation, Xbox and PC.

September’s announcements increasingly suggest that argument has been won, at least for the current hardware generation.

What to Watch: Resident Evil Owns the Weekend

Resident Evil is the clear theatrical headline this weekend, while streaming offers a crowded selection including Neagley on Prime Video, Slow Horses Season 6 on Apple TV, Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story on Netflix, MobLand Season 2 on Paramount+ and The Traitors: New Blood on Peacock.

The variety is almost a perfect snapshot of modern entertainment consumption. One recognizable horror franchise is trying to convince people to leave home for a theater while five major services simultaneously offer recognizable television properties from entirely different genres.

Resident Evil’s early numbers suggest theatrical movies can still win that competition when audiences believe the experience warrants the trip. The real test comes after opening weekend, when curiosity has to become sustained interest.

This report includes information from: Variety.com, Deadline.com, Gematsu.com, TheWrap.com, Famitsu reporting, and streaming-platform coverage.