Zach Cregger’s new Resident Evil movie will hit theaters on September 18 and tells an original story set in the franchise without featuring any characters from the games.

Cregger said in an interview with Empire that using legacy characters would be inorganic and that the film must focus on its own plot.

The movie stars Austin Abrams as Bryan, a medical courier with no combat experience who becomes embroiled in a horror adventure. Cregger described Bryan as an everyman drawn into a mission comparable to Frodo’s journey in The Lord of the Rings.

Fans have voiced disappointment that familiar figures such as Leon Kennedy or Jill Valentine will not appear, but Cregger said he expects the film to satisfy viewers with its distinct vision.

The release is pending, and the choice to omit established game characters remains a topic of conversation among the franchise’s audience.