Resident Evil Film Trailer: Director Zach Cregger’s Vision

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The first trailer for the new Resident Evil movie was released on Thursday, and fans seem hopeful. Director Zach Cregger, known for his work on the films Barbarian and last year’s Academy Award-winning Weapons, is bringing his unique vision to the world of Raccoon City, and the results look genuinely scary.

Look, as a big fan of horror and especially the Resident Evil games, I’ve been burned before. We’ve seen seven Resident Evil movies since 2002, and honestly, none of them have quite captured what makes the games so great. But I’m hoping this new one will finally get it right, and here’s why I think it might.

What We Know About the Film

The latest Resident Evil movie centers around Bryan, played by Austin Abrams (known from Euphoria and Weapons), a delivery driver who gets stuck in Raccoon City during a terrifying night. He’s an ordinary person, not a hero, and must quickly learn to survive. Unlike previous adaptations, this film won’t feature familiar characters like Leon Kennedy or Jill Valentine. Director Cregger is crafting a new story drawing inspiration from the events of Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3, and it was filmed in Prague. The movie is scheduled to be released on September 18, 2026.

Director Craig McGregger is currently one of the most sought-after names in horror. His film Weapons was a huge financial success, earning over $270 million despite a $38 million budget, and even won an Academy Award. Crucially, he’s a dedicated fan of the Resident Evil games, and he personally co-wrote the screenplay. He specifically drew inspiration from the games’ emphasis on managing limited resources and creating a tense atmosphere of survival. McGregger’s main aim is to recreate the feeling of playing the games, which is a promising sign for any video game adaptation.

Cregger explained to Polygon that he aimed to create a story set within the world of Resident Evil, happening at the same time as the events of Resident Evil 2, but focusing on a separate, parallel narrative. He wanted it to capture the atmosphere and tempo of playing the games themselves.

The film boasts a strong supporting cast, including Paul Walter Hauser (known for roles in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Black Bird, and I, Tonya), Zach Cherry (Severance, Silicon Valley), and Kali Reis (True Detective Season 4). Notably, the actors aren’t typical action movie stars, and this seems like a deliberate choice.

Why History Demands Caution

Past attempts to adapt Resident Evil have always missed the mark because they focused too much on action and not enough on what truly makes the games special: the feeling of being isolated, vulnerable, and running out of resources. The movie series starring Milla Jovovich moved further and further away from the source material with each installment. The 2021 film, Welcome to Raccoon City, attempted a return to the games’ roots but wasn’t successful, and the recent Netflix series was canceled after just one season.

The Verdict

One of the most effective choices in this film is centering the story around a relatable, everyday person. The protagonist, Bryan, isn’t a superhero; he’s just a delivery person. This approach powerfully echoes the success of the Resident Evil 2 Remake (2019), where characters like Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield felt so vulnerable because they were inexperienced rookies thrown into a terrifying situation. The most compelling parts of Resident Evil games come from feeling utterly helpless, and this film captures that feeling by placing an ordinary person in extraordinary circumstances, much like being trapped in Raccoon City.

As a huge movie and gaming fan, I’m really excited about this Resident Evil project. The fact that PlayStation Productions is involved is a big deal – they clearly know how to bring a game to life on screen, just look at the success of The Last of Us on HBO. Everything about this feels right – Zach Cregger is a fantastic director, Austin Abrams seems like a perfect fit for the lead role, and the trailer genuinely scared me, which is exactly what I wanted! But honestly, the smartest thing they’ve done is focus on a more personal, grounded story set during the initial outbreak in Raccoon City. Previous Resident Evil films have missed that mark, and this approach feels like a game-changer.

Resident Evil hits theaters September 18, 2026. The trailer is out now.

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2026-04-30 22:14