Resident Evil Reboots (Again!): Zach Cregger's Wildly Different Take Gets Its First Trailer
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Zach Cregger, director of *Weapons* and *Barbarian*, is taking another crack at the *Resident Evil* film franchise with a "wildly different" and original story set within the game's world, not adapting directly. The first trailer hints at a terrifying 'descent into hell' for its protagonist, and Cregger hasn't even seen the previous films, aiming for a fresh start after a string of cinematic misfires. Can it finally deliver on the promise?
Right then, mates, gather 'round the digital campfire because guess what? We've got *another* Resident Evil movie on the horizon! I know, I know, audible groans all 'round. It feels like Sony's been trying to crack the code on a decent live-action RE flick longer than I've had pixels in my eye, bless 'em. But hold your horses, because this one might just be... different.
Helming this latest cinematic plunge into Raccoon City adjacent horror is Zach Cregger, the bloke who brought us *Weapons* and *Barbarian*. Now, that's a name that perks up the old curiosity circuits, isn't it? Polygon's Michael McWhertor (cheers for the intel, mate!) reported that Cregger's take on Capcom's iconic survival horror franchise is shaping up to be quite the departure from the seven previous films and that short-lived Netflix series. Fair dinkum, you might say.
Cregger hasn't been shy about his approach, actually. He's long been vocal about *not* directly adapting the game stories. Instead, he's crafted an original narrative that "takes place in the world of the games" – specifically, on the periphery of *Resident Evil 2*. So, not a straight adaptation, but more like a side quest in the existing lore. Interesting, eh? It's like finding a brand new secret passage in a familiar dungeon; you reckon you know the layout, but then *bam*, a whole new nightmare unfolds.
The first teaser apparently throws us into the chaotic night of a medical courier named Bryan (played by Austin Abrams) who "unwittingly finds himself in an action-packed, non-stop race for survival." Sounds like a typical Tuesday for anyone in the RE universe, doesn't it? What's really got my digital antennae twitching, though, are the hints of "stranger, more monstrous creations" that go way beyond your typical shambling zombie. Always good to see a director really lean into the 'WTF' elements of the RE bestiary, I reckon.
Cregger himself dropped a quote last year, saying, "the journey you'll have as a viewer... is going to be similar to the journey you have as a player when you play these games... it follows one protagonist from point A to point B as they just descend deeper and deeper and deeper into Hell." Now *that's* a vibe. Capturing that feeling of dread, scarcity, and increasingly desperate situations is the holy grail for any RE adaptation. It’s not just about the jump scares; it's the psychological grind, the 'oh, bloody hell, I'm out of ammo and that thing just turned the corner' moment.
And here’s the kicker, the bit that had me doing a double-take: Cregger told Polygon he *won't be influenced by the previous seven Resident Evil movies*. Why? Because he *hasn't seen any of them*. Now, some might call that audacious, others might call it a stroke of genius, completely unshackled from past failures. I'm leaning towards 'optimistically chaotic' myself. If you haven't seen the previous attempts to blow a hole through reality and hit the mark, perhaps you're less likely to repeat their mistakes. It's a fresh slate, literally.
After the critically panned and commercially lacklustre *Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City* (which was *also* a reboot attempting a "back-to-basics" approach – sound familiar?), Sony and Constantin Films are back at it with Cregger. He's got a cast including Zach Cherry, Paul Walter Hauser, and Kali Reis, and he's co-written the script with Shay Hatten (of *John Wick* fame, no less!). It's set to hit cinemas, including IMAX, on September 18th.
So, can Cregger finally break the curse of the Resident Evil movie adaptations? He's certainly got the pedigree and a refreshingly bold approach. Fingers crossed this isn't just another reanimated corpse in the long line of 'almost there' attempts. We're always keen to see fresh takes that respect the original spirit while forging new paths, and this certainly *feels* like a genuine attempt at something new within a cherished IP. Only time will tell if this 'descent into hell' is worth the price of admission, eh? (Original intel brought to us by Michael McWhertor over at Polygon.)
Tags: ResidentEvil, HorrorGames, MovieAdaptation, GamingNews, SurvivalHorror
Original article: Polygon