Resident Evil's New Trailer Reveals Weapons Director Zach Cregger's Vision For Horror Franchise

Published Apr 13, 2026, 10:50 PM EDT

Now, Sony has revealed first-look footage of Resident Evil, which sees Abrams' character going into a house in snowy weather, seeking to use a phone due to problems with his car. However, when he gets inside, he finds unsettling horrors waiting for him beyond the doorway. Check out a description of the Resident Evil footage from Sony's CinemaCon panel below:

Star Austin Abrams is seen walking in the snow before knocking on the door of a house. The door opens, and Abrams asks to use the phone because of car troubles. When he calls, it goes to voicemail. Abrams is then seen running into the barn, searching for weapons. He finds a body. Then Abrams is in a sewer and sees a person sitting there. He's seen running into the snow again and locking zombies in a room. Abrams is then seen in a city where bodies are dropping from skyscrapers and falling onto parked cars.

During the panel, Cregger himself showed up to discuss his new, big-screen take on the franchise. He explained how he's played "a s*** load of Resident Evil," explaining how he became a fan of everything about the games, from their mood to their gameplay. This is the essence of what he seeks to capture in his original movie set within the game universe.

The live-action Resident Evil movies have a rather subpar reputation because of their use of game elements to create new, original stories that don't end up being as compelling as the source material. This has been the case with all seven American live-action movies made thus far, alongside a critically panned Netflix series of the same name.

However, Cregger has proven himself a juggernaut in the horror scene, having earned multiple awards and nominations for his 2025 horror movie Weapons. As for Resident Evil, he serves as director, alongside co-writer with Shay Hatten (John Wick: Chapter 4). Even with an original story approach, the footage signals the franchise is in capable hands.

Alongside Abrams, the movie will also star Paul Walter Hauser as Carl and Johnno Wilson as Max. Zach Cherry and Kali Reis have been cast in undisclosed roles. At the time of writing, no other Resident Evil cast members have been revealed. It's unclear if anyone cast thus far will be playing any familiar franchise characters, or if the setting of Raccoon City will be the only familiarity.

The movie arrives just as the franchise has seen a surge in popularity thanks to its latest game release, Resident Evil Requiem. The game, which came out in February 2026, sold five million copies in less than a week, becoming the fastest-selling game of the entire franchise. It's more popular than ever, which could help the movie succeed.

Even without a traditional narrative from the games, the footage signals Abrams' character will have what it takes to lead the charge. It also promises a cryptic, multifaceted narrative that doesn't let up on the terror. The movie appears to be leaning into the franchise's darker elements, with a major focus on fighting the undead and trying to survive.

Resident Evil arrives in theaters on September 18, 2026. With the new story it's currently brewing, it seems like the movie is going to be a crucial part of the franchise that could make or break its big screen presence for a long time to come. Cregger's track record proves it's in good hands, though, while promising a new type of lens for the franchise's storytelling.