Sony Pictures Entertainment has released the first trailer for Resident Evil, introducing a new version of the popular survival horror franchise based on Capcom’s well known video games. The film is directed by Zach Cregger, who previously directed Weapons and Barbarian. He also co wrote the screenplay with Shay Hatten. Although the movie tells a new story with different characters, it keeps many of the elements that made the original games popular with fans around the world.
The story follows Bryan, played by Austin Abrams, who works as a medical courier. While carrying out an emergency delivery, Bryan unexpectedly comes across a zombie. What starts as a normal assignment quickly turns into a terrifying fight for survival. As danger spreads around him, Bryan is forced to escape deadly situations while trying to stay alive during one horrifying night.
The official logline describes the story by saying, “(Bryan) finds himself in an action-packed, non-stop race for survival as one fateful, horrifying night collapses around him in chaos.” Along with Austin Abrams, the film also stars Zach Cherry, Kali Reis, and Paul Walter Hauser in key roles.
One sequence shown in the trailer is expected to remind longtime fans of the original Resident Evil games. Bryan enters an abandoned house looking for a safe place to hide. Inside, he discovers an empty shotgun lying in the hallway. Later, he finds shotgun shells hidden inside a dresser. This scene closely reflects the gameplay style of the original video games, where players often searched abandoned buildings for weapons, ammunition, and other supplies needed to survive.
Speaking during CinemaCon 2026, director Zach Cregger explained how much the game series influenced his approach to the movie. He said, “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.”
The Resident Evil franchise first began in the 1990s as a video game series developed by Capcom. Over the years, it has become one of the most successful horror franchises in gaming. The latest game in the series is Resident Evil Requiem. The franchise has also achieved major success in cinemas, beginning with the 2002 film starring Milla Jovovich. It later expanded with several sequels, including Resident Evil: The Final Chapter and Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City. Altogether, the films have earned more than $1 billion at the worldwide box office.
The new Resident Evil movie is produced by Constantin Film and PlayStation Productions. It is scheduled to arrive in theatres on September 18, adding another chapter to one of the most successful horror franchises across both video games and films.