Zach Cregger, the horror mastermind behind Barbarian, is back with a fresh take on the iconic video game franchise Resident Evil. Sony dropped the first full trailer this morning, giving fans a terrifying glimpse of what Cregger has cooked up for Raccoon City. Starring Austin Abrams as a new protagonist named Bryan, the film promises to blend survival horror with Cregger's signature tension-building style.
Cregger has quietly become one of the most exciting names in horror. After a decade-long break from directing, he returned in 2022 with Barbarian, a film that earned rave reviews and grossed $46 million on a tiny $4.5 million budget. He followed that up with Weapons, which helped Amy Madigan win an Oscar and spawned a confirmed prequel centered on her character, Gladys. Now, he's tackling the beloved Resident Evil universe with a story that doesn't adapt any existing game but instead carves out a new narrative within the franchise's lore—similar to how Prime Video handled Fallout.
The trailer introduces Bryan, a medical courier who finds himself in the middle of a nightmare in Raccoon City. Paul Walter Hauser co-stars, along with Zach Cherry, Kali Reis, and Johnno Wilson. The footage is packed with the kind of visceral horror that Cregger excels at, from zombie hordes to claustrophobic corridors. It's a far cry from the campy action of earlier Resident Evil movies, leaning instead into the dread and atmosphere that made the games so iconic.
For those who've been following the games, the last three mainline entries—Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, Resident Evil: Village, and the recent Resident Evil: Requiem—have shifted toward first-person survival horror. Cregger's film seems to channel that same energy, focusing on a single protagonist's desperate fight for survival. The Umbrella Corporation looms in the background, as always, but the trailer keeps the story grounded in Bryan's personal ordeal.
This isn't Cregger's first rodeo with high-stakes horror. His ability to build suspense and deliver shocking moments has drawn comparisons to genre legends. If the trailer is any indication, Resident Evil could be his biggest hit yet. The film is set to hit theaters worldwide on September 18, 2026, and fans are already buzzing about how it fits into the larger franchise.
In other horror news, DC's Clayface trailer recently unleashed a goopy, terrifying transformation, proving that the genre is thriving across studios. Meanwhile, Avengers: Doomsday shattered records with 503 million views, showing that audiences are hungry for big-screen spectacles. Cregger's Resident Evil could be the next must-see event.
Stay tuned to ShowtimeSpot for more updates on Resident Evil, including exclusive interviews and behind-the-scenes looks. The countdown to September 18 has officially begun.
