Check out these first-look images and trailer for Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil

Following the massive success of Weapons, writer and director Zach Cregger’s is set to tackle a major franchise next - Resident Evil. Cregger’s take on the long-running video game series, which he co-wrote with Shay Hatten, is slated for theatrical release on September 18, just in time for spooky season.

This week, Sony released first-look images and a trailer for the new movie. Check out the images below.

Courtesy of Sony Pictures

The first image depicts Austin Abrams as Bryan, the new film's protagonist. Though we don't have a ton of information about the forthcoming movie yet, we do know that Bryan is a medical courier, trapped in Raccoon City during the outbreak while delivering a package. Instead of relying on the franchise's well-known and established heroes, Cregger instead decided to focus on an ordinary person just trying to survive and escape the outbreak.

Though Cregger has stressed this is a standalone movie, he did state the mythology of the Resident Evil games will be evident in his film. Just this week, he told The Hollywood Reporter, "If you love the games, you will feel their influence everywhere in the movie.” He added that he was always drawn to the games because they're "naturally cinematic."

The other images also feature Abrams as Bryan, trying to defend himself against the monsters. The image below depicts a really interesting snowy setting, with blood splattered all over a car. This sequence is also showcased in the trailer and looks like it could be a nail-biting escape/survival scene.

Courtesy of Sony Pictures

The other image that's been released so far looks like something straight out of one of the video games. Bryan appears to be fleeing the medical lab, just as monsters push against the door. It'll be interesting to see how the young protagonist survives that harrowing situation.

Courtesy of Sony Pictures

And last but not least, a trailer has been released for the film. Like the first-look images, the trailer focuses on Bryan, who realizes that the world has collapsed around him and the Raccoon City outbreak has started. Throughout most of the trailer, Bryan leaves a voicemail for his girlfriend, informing her that he may not see her again. The trailer also teases a few of the monsters, which look gnarly as hell. Check out the trailer below.

Thus far, there have been seven live-action Resident Evil movies. The primary series features Milla Jovovich and were written and produced by Paul W.S. Anderson. He also directed the first four films. In 2021, a reboot, Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City, was released, directed by Johannes Roberts. Besides Abrams, the forthcoming Resident Evil also stars Zach Cherry, Kali Reis, and Paul Walter Hauser.

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