New Resident Evil Movie Drops First Trailer

Resident Evil is getting another big-screen reboot, and this one looks like it’s taking a very different path.

Zach Cregger, the horror filmmaker behind Barbarian and Weapons, has released the first trailer for his upcoming take on Capcom’s iconic horror franchise. Based on the early footage, fans should expect something far from the previous live-action movies.

Unlike past Resident Evil films that tried to adapt the games more directly, Cregger’s version is telling a completely original story. It still exists in the same world as the games, but it won’t retell the familiar events from Raccoon City or other game storylines.

The trailer introduces a new lead character named Bryan, played by Austin Abrams. Bryan works as a medical courier, but what starts as a normal night quickly turns into a nightmare as he gets pulled into a deadly situation full of chaos, monsters, and survival.

And it’s not just zombies.

From what the teaser shows, this movie is bringing in stranger and more disturbing creatures, pushing deeper into the horror side of Resident Evil. That alone makes it feel different from many of the earlier movies, which leaned more into action than fear.

Cregger has said his goal is to capture the feeling of actually playing a Resident Evil game. Instead of following multiple storylines, the movie focuses on one character moving deeper into danger, with each step making things worse. It sounds like a slow descent into terror, something longtime fans of the games will probably recognize.

Sony has been trying to figure out the right formula for Resident Evil movies for years. The franchise previously had six films led by Paul W. S. Anderson and starring Milla Jovovich, followed by the reboot film Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City. That reboot aimed to stay closer to the games, but it failed to connect with both critics and audiences.

This new film feels like Sony’s latest attempt to reset everything again, this time with a director known for building tension and delivering unexpected horror.

Alongside Abrams, the cast includes Zach Cherry, Paul Walter Hauser, and Kali Reis. The script was co-written by Cregger and Shay Hatten, known for work on John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum and Army of the Dead.

The movie is set to hit theaters on September 18 and will also have an IMAX release.