The Barbarian director reinvents the survival horror franchise with an all-new story hitting UK cinemas September 2026.
The Resident Evil franchise is getting a fresh pulse. Zach Cregger, the filmmaker who turned heads with Barbarian and has Weapons in the pipeline, is steering a complete reinvention of the survival horror series with a story that ditches the baggage and goes for the jugular.
The trailer above introduces Bryan, a medical courier played by Austin Abrams, who finds himself in the wrong place at the absolute worst time. What begins as a routine delivery spirals into a relentless, nerve-shredding night of survival as chaos and horror close in from every angle. Cregger’s script—co-written with Shay Hatten—promises non-stop action with the kind of visceral dread that made Barbarian such a knockout.
A visionary director and killer cast
Cregger’s involvement alone is reason enough to pay attention. His knack for subverting genre expectations while keeping the tension dialled to breaking point makes him a perfect fit for rebooting a franchise that’s been stuck in limbo. Alongside Abrams, the cast features Zach Cherry, Kali Reis, and Paul Walter Hauser—a lineup that balances rising talent with character-actor grit.
The film is produced by Robert Kulzer, Cregger himself, Roy Lee, Miri Yoon, Victor Hadida, Asad Qizilbash, and Carter Swan, with backing from TriStar Pictures, Constantin Film, and Davis Films. It’s a major studio swing at reviving one of gaming’s most iconic horror properties for a new generation of filmgoers.
One night, no escape
What sets this iteration apart is its stripped-back focus: one character, one night, and nowhere to run. It’s a primal setup that plays to Cregger’s strengths as a filmmaker who knows how to wring maximum dread from a ticking clock and shrinking space. If you’re looking for badass survival instincts and edge-of-your-seat terror, this looks set to deliver both.
Resident Evil arrives in UK cinemas on September 18, 2026. Keep an eye on the official Facebook page for updates, new footage, and release details as we get closer to that date.
Image via Unsplash.
