Zach Cregger’s ‘Resident Evil’ Drops a New Clip Ahead of Its September Theatrical Release

Video game adaptations have had a rocky history at the box office, but a select few filmmakers have managed to prove the format can work when paired with the right creative vision. Zach Cregger, fresh off the critical and commercial success of ‘Weapons,’ is now putting that theory to the test with one of gaming’s most enduring horror franchises.

Cregger has spent much of this year building anticipation for his take on ‘Resident Evil,’ teasing footage at CinemaCon, unveiling a full trailer at San Diego Comic-Con, and steadily rolling out new looks at the film in the weeks leading up to its release. With the movie’s theatrical debut now just weeks away, that promotional push has entered its final stretch.

A newly released clip from the film has just hit the web, giving fans another glimpse at star Austin Abrams navigating the chaos of Cregger’s reimagined Raccoon City. The footage arrives as ‘Resident Evil’ continues counting down to its theatrical premiere on September 18.

Cregger’s version of ‘Resident Evil’ takes place during the alternate events of 1998’s ‘Resident Evil 2,’ but rather than adapting the game’s existing story beat for beat, the film follows an entirely new protagonist navigating similar territory. Abrams stars as Bryan, a medical courier headed toward Raccoon City General Hospital who unwittingly finds himself in a non-stop fight for survival as a horrifying outbreak collapses the city around him.

Cregger has been candid about his personal connection to the source material, having previously said he’s played “a shit ton of Resident Evil” over the years and was specifically drawn to how naturally cinematic the games felt, according to Gold Derby. That authenticity shows in the film’s approach to pacing and tension, with Cregger describing his intention to mirror the game’s escalating weapon progression, tracking bullet counts, and constant sense of vulnerability that defines the franchise’s gameplay loop.

Joining Abrams in the cast are Zach Cherry and Kali Reis as fellow Umbrella scientists, alongside Paul Walter Hauser and Johnno Wilson rounding out the ensemble navigating the film’s single, chaotic night.

Among the film’s most talked-about moments is a practical stunt sequence involving Abrams running through a street lined with collapsing bodies and detonating explosions, a scene Cregger has said could have proven fatal if the timing had been off. Describing the sequence, Cregger explained that Abrams is shown running while zombies leap from rooftops on either side, with the team designing an elaborate practical effects setup rather than relying on visual effects, according to Deadline.

That commitment to practical filmmaking reflects Cregger’s broader approach to horror, building on the tension-driven style that made both ‘Barbarian’ and ‘Weapons’ stand out among recent genre releases. With ‘Weapons’ having earned Amy Madigan an Oscar win, expectations for Cregger’s ability to elevate genre material remain high heading into this latest project.

This marks the third major attempt at bringing ‘Resident Evil’ to the big screen, following the six-film series directed by Paul W.S. Anderson and starring Milla Jovovich, which grossed over $1.2 billion globally, and the more recent reboot attempt, ‘Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City.’ Produced on an $80 million budget through Columbia Pictures, Constantin Film, and TriStar Pictures, Cregger’s version aims to strike a tone closer to the survival-horror roots of the original games.

With the film’s September 18 release date rapidly approaching, the steady drip of new clips and trailers suggests Sony is confident in the buzz surrounding Cregger’s take on the franchise.

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