The Resident Evil cinematic universe is rising up once again in 2026! With a major reboot hitting the cinemas, it is all set to throw Capcom's established playbook out of the window.

With Zach Cregger at the helm, expect a completely new Resident Evil experience with not much in common with the franchise's games.

Zach Cregger's movie is rumoured to have "practically nothing to do with the games.” Recent test screenings reveal the film has almost zero connection to the video games. Fan-favorite characters of the franchise, like Leon S. Kennedy, Chris Redfield, and Jill Valentine, are entirely absent from the movie.

Instead, a new original protagonist, Bryan (played by Austin Abrams), has been introduced. He is a medical courier trapped in Raccoon City General Hospital during the viral outbreak, who will be tasked with transporting a mysterious briefcase to the 28th floor while surviving a gauntlet of monsters.

The movie is currently being compared to a horror version of Mad Max: Fury Road. While it might not scale similar peaks, the comparison speaks to the movie's fast-paced nature. Relentless action for 90 minutes that prioritizes momentum, tension, and survival.

According to Cregger himself, he fully expects fans to dislike him if he does anything to alter the source material. He further added, “I love the idea of being pitted against a world that is h*** bent on annihilating you. It just feels fun, and I haven’t seen a movie that offers that sort of experience."

He has promised to capture the intensity of the games within a new story, and fans can expect a few iconic monsters to make cameos. However, do expect a few iconic monsters to make their cameos on screen.

Resident Evil Reboot: A Fresh Canvas or a Betrayal of the Lore?

Some from the hardcore Resident Evil community might feel alienated by Hollywood using the "Resident Evil" IP to tell unrelated stories. Instead, they would rather want to faithfully bring the original game narratives they love to the big screen.

However, the leaked reactions from test screenings have been overwhelmingly positive. Most have highly praised the tight execution and relentless suspense the movie brings.

Previous Resident Evil adaptations have always struggled to strike the perfect balance between game accuracy and financial success at theatres. This includes titles like the Jovovich action blockbusters, to the lore-accurate but financial flop, Welcome to Raccoon City.

So maybe straying away from the Resident Evil mainline storylines might not be that bad of a thing. Are you hyped for this upcoming Resident Evil movie? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Nisarga Aseem Barkule

Edited by

Siddharth Shirwadkar