The first trailer for Zach Cregger’s “faithful” Resident Evil movie has been released, giving fans their first look at the horror icon’s take on the beloved video game series. 

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The movie tells an “original” story within the Resident Evil universe. The trailer sees courier Bryan (Austin Abrams) crashing his car while on a run, and getting stranded in a zombie-ravaged Racoon City. The clip features fan-favourite undead beasties as well as a faithful recreation of how players typically discover different weapons and ammo in the games.

However, while classic Resident Evil games take place in the ‘90s, Zach Cregger’s take on the franchise is set in modern times and instead of a rainy Racoon City, we see it covered in snow. “I take liberties,” he told IGN. “It’s not 1998. It takes place in modern times. I know that during the events of Resident Evil 2, it’s not snowing [but] in this movie, I thought it would be better for the story and for the visual, if it was snowy. It’s going to be a better movie for it.”

“I am not trying to adapt a video game. I’m not using the characters from the games. I’m not telling a story that the games tell because I’m not going to be able to do it better than the games,” he continued. “The games are so well executed and to me, Leon and Claire exist so perfectly in the games that anyone I cast and any difference that I do with them would be, probably, to the detriment of what I was trying to do.”

It’s sparked a debate online about how faithful video game adaptations should be. “I have lived enough to be distrusting of any adaptation that is a ‘love letter’ to the source material,” one fan wrote on Reddit. “Still feels like they used the name to generate interest in what is mostly an unrelated horror movie, and that comes across as disingenuous,” added another. 

“I don’t personally want this. Why does Hollywood  keep making these films and then changing things to fit their ‘artistic visions’ or telling the story they wanted to tell? You can do that, just don’t slap the Resident Evil name on it. How hard is that concept to grasp,” said a third. 

just make an original work then. people actually want good new original zombie ip. hijacking an already existing ip doesnt do his work any favors, the resident evil brand is already casting a huge shadow on the project.

— AKLR 🪶 play signalis!! (@_undeadinside) July 26, 2026

However other fans are excited about this take on Resident Evil. “I think this movie looks absolutely sick. The game story is too nonsensical to be so literal and translated to film, so the writers and directors need creative liberties. Same universe, themes. The writing and creature design just have to be good,” one fan wrote on Reddit.

“I’m honestly glad he’s doing an original story. Everyone says they want translations of the games, but the remakes look so good – they’re basically an interactive movie already. The adaptation attempts we’ve had have been dogshit. We just need a guy who knows how to make good movies AND is a fan of the games and is familiar with the lore, characters and will be respectful/appreciative to the source material. If Zach Cregger can’t do it well, I’m skeptical anybody can,” said another.

Last year, Cregger said he was expecting criticism over the Resident Evil film. “I’m trying to tell a story that just feels authentic to the experience you get when you play the games. I don’t think I’m breaking any major rules, but I also recognise that no matter what I do, people are going to come for me online.”

Resident Evil will hit cinemas September 18.