New Trailer for Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil Unveils Exciting Content

Since its initial reveal in April, Zach Cregger’s new take on the Resident Evil movie has stirred up quite a bit of debate among fans of the survival horror series. Instead of featuring iconic characters like Leon S. Kennedy or Claire Redfield, the film introduces a completely new protagonist who finds himself navigating a dire Resident Evil scenario. The latest trailer from Sony Pictures might just sway some opinions, as it showcases plenty of familiar elements from the franchise.

Yes, there’s a zombie! You’ll spot a typewriter, and Cregger’s team even included a glimpse of the franchise’s signature shotgun shells, Heavy Field. There’s even a moment where someone mentions “Raccoon City” with a serious tone. Expect to see a quirky character slowly unraveling amidst the chaos, along with a creepy zombie baby. It’s unmistakably Resident Evil!

The trailer also reveals that Cregger’s interpretation of the Raccoon City outbreak is set in modern times rather than 1998, featuring contemporary technology like smartphones. So, no need to worry about the snow in September!

Cregger has emphasized in various interviews that his approach to the Resident Evil franchise focuses on capturing the gameplay experience rather than delving into its intricate lore. The film follows a medical courier named Bryan (Austin Abrams), who “unwittingly finds himself in an action-packed, non-stop race for survival as one fateful, horrifying night collapses around him in chaos,” according to the synopsis.

Cregger noted, “The journey you’ll have as a viewer of watching this movie is going to be similar to the journey you have as a player when you play these games. It follows one protagonist from point A to point B as they just descend deeper and deeper into Hell.” He also mentioned that his Resident Evil film aligns with his creative sensibilities and is on a much grander scale than his previous works.

Over the past two decades, a variety of films based on Resident Evil have been produced, including six directed by Paul W. S. Anderson and starring Milla Jovovich. After the 2016 release of Resident Evil: The Final Chapter, Sony attempted to reboot the series with a more straightforward approach in Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City, which drew from the first two video games. However, that film was met with poor reviews and box office performance, prompting another reboot with Cregger at the helm.

Resident Evil features a cast that includes Austin Abrams, Zach Cherry, Paul Walter Hauser, and Kali Reis. Cregger directed from a script he co-wrote with Shay Hatten. The movie is set to hit theaters on September 18, including an IMAX release.

Capcom also has another movie adaptation in the works for 2026, with Kitao Sakurai’s Street Fighter.