Most anticipated movie of 2026 gets update that splits fans | Films | Entertainment

A significant update regarding one of the most eagerly awaited film releases of the year looks set to split opinion among fans.

A brand new big-screen adaptation of one of gaming’s most beloved franchises is on its way, with fresh details now emerging about the production.

A new cinematic take on the iconic horror title Resident Evil is expected to arrive in cinemas this September.

Based on Capcom’s legendary game series, which launched in 1996 with its debut title and recently marked the release of its ninth main entry, Resident Evil Requiem, earlier this year.

A previous film franchise, starring Milla Jovovich, spanned six instalments between 2002 and 2017, amassing over $1.2 billion at the global box office.

A reboot was attempted in 2021 under the title Welcome to Raccoon City, but it failed to win over either critics or devoted fans. Now, the director behind modern horror successes such as Barbarian and Weapons is taking a fresh crack at the franchise.

Furthermore, Deadline reports that Sony screened the first trailer for Zach Cregger’s version at CinemaCon on April 13, and while the footage has yet to be made available to the public, images have already surfaced online — along with further details about the film’s plot and characters, reports the Mirror.

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Following the teaser’s debut screening, the studio revised the film’s official synopsis. The entirely new storyline will centre on Bryan (portrayed by Weapons actor Austin Abrams), a medical courier who inadvertently finds himself caught up in a breathless, relentless fight for survival, as one fateful, terrifying night descends into mayhem around him.

For those eager to catch the trailer ahead of its wider release, Variety has also provided a detailed breakdown of its contents. They noted: “(It) starts out with Austin Abrams’ character stumbling upon an abandoned house in a snowy field, desperate to find a working phone. He frantically calls his girlfriend and apologises for getting disconnected earlier – and that they may never speak again.”

Their account continues: “Shots of horrifying zombies fill the rest of the trailer, including a pale, bloated monster sitting at the bottom of a sewer. The biggest moment of the trailer comes when Abrams is running through a deserted street as a zombie horde chases him from the rooftops. It ends with zombie bodies splattering violently as the creatures plummet to the ground.”

Joining Abrams in the cast are Johnno Wilson as Max, and Paul Walter Hauser of Fantastic Four fame as Carl. Succession alumnus Zach Cherry and boxer-turned-True Detective star Kalie Reis are also set to appear, though the specifics of their respective roles remain undisclosed.

Cregger has already spoken out about the film, describing it as “a big, scary ride” that he hoped would be “true to the spirit of the games.” He revealed that he has personally played “a sh*tload of Resident Evil” himself, hailing it as the ‘gold standard’ of horror.

Nevertheless, some fans may harbour concerns that the story details and character names bear no resemblance whatsoever to any plotlines or roles from the games. The sole potential connection could be if the mentioned house is in fact a mansion, as that serves as the setting for the original game.

Fans have been voicing their thoughts and reservations online in response to the update. One posted: “Proceeds to make a movie that has nothing to do with the video games.”

Another added: “So it’s just a generic zombie movie with the Resident Evil branding that has nothing to do with the series.” While someone else quipped: “Feel like the parent that asked their kid if they did the dishes and they responded with ‘NO BUT WE MADE SURE TO CLEAN THE TABLE AND FLOOR REALLY NICE!’ Why is it so hard to just use one of the many main characters the game has?”

However, a handful remained intrigued by what the acclaimed filmmaker might deliver within the Resident Evil universe, even if it proves not to be a faithful adaptation. As one person noted: “In Zach Cregger we trust. If anyone can make zombies scary again in 2026, it’s the man who gave us the basement scene in Barbarian.”

Resident Evil is expected to hit UK cinemas on September 18, 2026.