The 3 Movie Icons That Inspired Austin Abram's Bryan In 'Resident Evil'
Resident Evil (2026) may not directly adapt any of the games, but that hasn't stopped it from gaining mass appeal from the video game, horror, and movie communities. It makes perfect sense as we follow medical courier Bryan (Austin Abrams) as he survives the Raccoon City zombie outbreak to deliver a cure to Umbrella.
Zach Cregger put a lot of thought into his script and characters, and what results is a thought-out and entertaining film thanks largely to Abrams' delivery. However, there were three movie icons from over the decades that Abrams channeled to create the Bryan character, according to an interview with Cregger.
John McClane
Die Hard (1987) is one of the greatest action and Christmas movies of all time, and that's largely thanks to Bruce Willis' character, John McClane, the NYPD cop who gets stuck in a hostage situation at Nakatomi Plaza in LA. He stops the terrorists who have taken over the building without any shoes, but rather than being a macho man, he is easily the most grounded and capable action hero in cinema, and it's why we love him so much.
Cregger and Abrams explained that Bryan channeled these elements whenever he felt his most capable. This could also be attributed to moments when players who experience Resident Evil are no longer scared and can defeat the enemy with ease. When Abrams finally shoots and hits his target, or when he uses one zombie to delay a bio-weapon, McClane peeks through, and it makes us root for him even more.
Marty McFly
Back to the Future (1985) is one of the most important films of the '80s and a sci-fi classic, but few people talk about just how great and resourceful Marty McFly is as he finds himself in a time he shouldn't even be in. Seeing him navigate the '50s, lie at a moment's notice, and just be shocked that he even got that far are part of his charm and why we love him so much.
Bryan captures this perfectly throughout most of Resident Evil. Whenever he has to move away from being more like McClane, McFly is the default. This is especially true in the farmhouse scene as he's figuring out his situation but also moving to survive rather than stumble and make a mistake. He just wants to finish his job, and it grounds him in the same way we adore Marty McFly, making this the best parallel for the character.
Kevin McCallister
Home Alone's (1990) Kevin McCallister is praised for his creativity and resourcefulness, and rightfully so. He survives on his own in a New York City house and manages to stop criminals twice. However, he's still a kid, and when things start to get too intense, Kevin is no stranger to turning tail and getting out of there; something Bryan also does throughout Resident Evil.
Bryan's entire night is filled with situations and choices that involve him being brave, from getting the keys to an SUV to taking a long trek to the top of a hospital. But most of the time, Bryan knows when things have gone beyond his comfort zone, and he actively rejects his dignity and screams as he runs off. It helps him survive and is hilarious, but it might not have been possible without channeling Kevin McCallister's fear response. In the end, this may be the most important character that inspired Bryan because, realistically, it's how all of us would likely be in a zombie outbreak.
