Sony’s first trailer for Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil has sparked discussion among horror and video game fans. The upcoming film is the eighth live-action film installment in the Resident Evil movie series, and it looks like the makers are trying a fresh and different approach this time.
𝙰 𝚗𝚎𝚠 𝚎𝚛𝚊 𝚘𝚏 𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚕.
From the mind of Zach Cregger, director of Weapons and Barbarian. Watch the new teaser trailer for Resident Evil. Filmed for IMAX – in theatres 9.18. pic.twitter.com/dE7kpxaBo5
— Sony Pictures (@SonyPictures) April 30, 2026
The teaser shows Bryan entering a seemingly abandoned house after becoming caught in a nightmarish situation as he desperately looks for a working phone. He frantically calls his girlfriend, apologizes for getting disconnected earlier, tells her that he loves her and hints that it could be their last conversation.
The rest of the trailer is filled with creepy and frightening moments, including a a pale, swollen-looking creature in a sewer-like setting. One intense scene shows Bryan running through an empty street while something horrifying is chasing him from the rooftops. The trailer ends with some creatures crashing violently onto the ground.
Based on the trailer, The trailer still leaves unclear how much the film will lean into traditional zombies versus other infected creatures, and that mystery has made many fans even more curious.
Director Zach Cregger appears to be aiming for a much scarier and more suspenseful version of the franchise. Cregger has said the film tells an original story set inside the Resident Evil universe, aiming to capture the feeling of playing the games rather than retelling Leon, Claire, or another familiar character’s story.
The trailer has also drawn online discussion, with viewers discussing how this version feels different. While some viewers have praised the gameplay-inspired details, while others are debating how loosely the movie will connect to established game lore, others are talking about the “fat molded creature” in the sewer.
One Reddit user wrote, “Might be an odd detail but what REALLY sold me in this trailer is him opening the drawers looking for supplies. It’s a small but great detail from the games and I love it so much. This looks incredible.” Another user wrote, “I actually love that this movie isn’t Resident Evil in story/characters/lore, but instead more inspired by the gameplay and mechanics of the series. Just like RE7 did for the series.”
About the pale and swollen creature shown in the sewer, one user wrote, “Is the white fat guy in the sewers a Tyrant? I’m curious 🤔.” Another user replied, “That was my first thought: ‘What in the Dunc is this?’”
Resident Evil stars Austin Abrams, Zach Cherry, Paul Walter Hauser, Kali Reis, and Johnno Wilson. The movie will hit theaters on September 18, 2026, after Sony previously launched the film’s official website and confirmed the release date.
With the trailer already sparking excitement among fans, it remains to be seen whether Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil will stand out from past adaptations.
