Resident Evil is set to hit theaters on September 18, 2026, delivering a completely new take on the legendary survival horror franchise from Zach Cregger, the director behind Barbarian and the upcoming horror film Weapons.
Rather than retelling one of the classic games, the upcoming reboot tells an original story set within the universe of Resident Evil 2. The film follows Bryan, a medical courier tasked with delivering a mysterious package to a remote hospital near Raccoon City before finding himself trapped in the middle of a horrific viral outbreak. Surrounded by mutated creatures and collapsing civilization, Bryan is forced into a desperate fight for survival through a nightmarish landscape inspired by the tension and atmosphere of the original games.
The film stars Austin Abrams as Bryan alongside Paul Walter Hauser, Kali Reis, Zach Cherry, and Johnno Wilson.
According to Cregger, the film aims to capture the feeling of playing the early Resident Evil games rather than directly adapting a specific storyline. The director has described the movie as “fresh,” “edgy,” and heavily focused on survival horror over large-scale action spectacle. Early reactions and teaser footage suggest a tense, fast-paced experience with strong horror influences and a more grounded protagonist compared to previous adaptations.
The reboot is being produced by Constantin Film, Columbia Pictures, and Capcom Entertainment, with filming taking place in Prague, Czech Republic.
While longtime fans have debated the film’s decision to avoid iconic franchise characters like Leon S. Kennedy or Jill Valentine, the project has generated major attention thanks to Cregger’s horror pedigree and promises of a darker, more suspense-driven approach to the franchise.
Resident Evil releases exclusively in theaters on September 18, 2026.