‘Resident Evil’ trailer: Zach Cregger’s reboot promises thrilling, game-accurate horror

Sony Pictures Entertainment has unveiled the trailer for Resident Evil, the upcoming all-new take on the long-running survival horror franchise based on the iconic games. Directed by Zach Cregger (Weapons, Barbarian), the film is based on a screenplay he wrote along with Shay Hatten.

The thrilling new trailer shows glimpses of a story following Bryan (Austin Abrams), a medical courier, who, during an emergency run, encounters a zombie. As he races for survival, the world around him collapses. “(Bryan) finds himself in an action-packed, non-stop race for survival as one fateful, horrifying night collapses around him in chaos,” reads the logline of the film, which also stars Zach Cherry, Kali Reis, and Paul Walter Hauser.

What particularly piques one’s interest is how Bryan, after entering an abandoned house for shelter, finds an empty shotgun in the hall, shells for which are later found in a random dresser — now, that screams ‘Classic Resident Evil.’ During an interaction at the CinemaCon 2026, director Cregger said that he has always been an avid fan of the Resident Evil games. “Over the last couple of decades, I have played a shit ton of Resident Evil. If you love the games, you will feel their influence everywhere in the movie,” he said.

First launched by Capcom in the 1990s, the Resident Evil franchise has grown into one of gaming’s defining horror properties, most recently expanding with Resident Evil Requiem. The previous Resident Evil film franchise has long been a major box office force, beginning with the 2002 film led by Milla Jovovich and expanding into multiple sequels, including Resident Evil: The Final Chapter and the reboot Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City. Collectively, the films have generated over a billion dollars globally.

Produced by Constantin Film alongside PlayStation Productions, the new film is set to release in theatres on September 18. Watch the trailer here: