Some fans are worried about the new details about Weapons director’s new film

A major update for one of the most anticipated movie releases this year could divide fans.

The new big screen adaptation based on one of the most popular video game franchises is on the way and more details have been shared about the production. A new big screen iteration of horror title Resident Evil is expected to hit the big screen later this year in September.

Based on the game series by Capcom which began back in 1996 with the debut title and recently celebrated the release of the ninth main entry, Resident Evil Requiem earlier this year. There was already a film franchise adaptation, starring Milla Jovovich, spanning six films from 2002 until 2017, earning more than $1.2 billion at the worldwide box office.

A reboot was already attempted back in 2021 titled Welcome to Raccoon City but it failed to be warmly welcomed by critics or fans. Now, the director of modern horror hits like Barbarian and Weapons is attempting a new version.

Not only that but Deadline now report that Sony screened the first trailer for Zach Cregger’s version at CinemaCon yesterday (April 13) and although the footage has not yet been released to the public yet but images have surfaced online. So has more details about the story and characters in the film.

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After the teaser was shown to its first audience, the studio updated the film’s official synopsis. Apparently the all new story will follow Bryan (played by Weapons actor Austin Abrams), a medical courier who unwittingly finds himself in an action-packed, non-stop race for survival, as one fateful, horrifying night collapses into chaos around him.

For those who can’t wait to see the trailer for themselves, Variety also described what happens in it. They said: “(It) starts out with Austin Abrams’ character stumbling upon an abandoned house in a snowy field, desperate to find a working phone. He frantically calls his girlfriend and apologises for getting disconnected earlier — and that they may never speak again.”

Their summary continues: “Shots of horrifying zombies fill the rest of the trailer, including a pale, bloated monster sitting at the bottom of a sewer. The biggest moment of the trailer comes when Abrams is running through a deserted street as a zombie horde chases him from the rooftops. It ends with zombie bodies splattering violently as the creatures plummet to the ground.”

Alongside Abrams, the cast also includes Johnno Wilson as Max, and Paul Walter Hauser from Fantastic Four as Carl. Succession star Zach Cherry and boxer turned True Detective star Kalie Reis also have roles but their details are not yet known.

Cregger has already spoken about the film and described it as “a big, scary ride” he hoped would be “true to the spirit of the games.” He claims that he has personally played “a sh*tload of Resident Evil” himself, calling it the ‘gold standard’ of horror.

However, some fans may be concerned that the story details and character names have nothing in common with any of the plotlines or roles from any of the games. The only link could be is if the mentioned house is actually a mansion, as that is the setting for the first game.

Fans have been sharing their thoughts and concerns online regarding the update. One posted: “Proceeds to make a movie that has nothing to do with the video games.”

Another added: “So it’s just a generic zombie movie with the Resident Evil branding that has nothing to do with the series.” While someone else quipped: “Feel like the parent that asked their kid if they did the dishes and they responded with ‘NO BUT WE MADE SURE TO CLEAN THE TABLE AND FLOOR REALLY NICE!’ Why is it so hard to just use one of the many main characters the game has?”

However a few were still interested in what the celebrated filmmaker could come up with in the Resident Evil universe, even if it turns out not to be a strict adaptation. As one person noted: “In Zach Cregger we trust. If anyone can make zombies scary again in 2026, it’s the man who gave us the basement scene in Barbarian.”

Resident Evil is expected to hit UK cinemas on September 18, 2026.