One of the most anticipated film releases this year has already sparked division among fans following the release of a terrifying new trailer. The movie adaptation, based on the hugely popular video game franchise, is set to hit cinemas later this year, with a brand new trailer released today (April 30) offering fans an exclusive glimpse into what to expect.
Directed by Zach Cregger, known for Weapons and Barbarian, the upcoming Resident Evil film is expected to arrive around September. The official synopsis reads: "From the mind of visionary filmmaker Zach Cregger comes a thrilling — and terrifying — reinvention of the Resident Evil franchise. In an all-new story, Resident Evil follows Bryan (Austin Abrams), a medical courier who unwittingly finds himself in an action-packed, non-stop race for survival as one fateful, horrifying night collapses around him in chaos."
However, fans remain divided before the release, with many expressing scepticism. One Instagram user commented: "It's a good zombie movie, but don't call it Resident Evil. Just possibly another good zombie movie." Another added: "For people who are excited for this, why? This just looks like another zombie movie lol if it weren't for the name Resident Evil wouldn't even be on the guess list." A third wrote: "I don't care if it's good, I'm tired of Resident Evil movies that have nothing to do with the games."
Despite the criticism, some fans are optimistic. One person said: "Resi on screen is in good hands." Another echoed: "Yall saying this s*** don’t match the tone of resident evil?! WHAT?! This was the most intriguing and eerie trailer I’ve seen for a zombie movie in a long time. ZC’s resident evil is going to f*** and open a new door for the franchise." On YouTube, one viewer stated: "Let’s go! Finally! Let’s see what you got Zach!" while another admitted to being "super sceptical about this one."
The trailer follows Austin Abrams' character stumbling upon an abandoned house, desperate to find a working phone. Unable to connect properly, the camera shows him being chased by zombies, with his voiceover leaving a message for his girlfriend: "Hey babe, look I'm really sorry that we got disconnected earlier but some things happened. I'm in like a seriously messed up situation right now. And it looks like there's a chance that we might not get to talk to each other again. I just wanted you to know, I love you." Chilling text on screen reads: "This year comes a new era of evil."
Many viewers noted that the film will not feature established characters like Leon or Jill, instead focusing on a new protagonist. The cast also includes familiar faces such as Zach Cherry, Kali Reis, and Paul Walter Hauser. The film is based on the game series that began in 1996, and it is not the first adaptation of the franchise. Six previous films starring Milla Jovovich were released from 2002 to 2017, earning over $1.2 billion at the worldwide box office.
