Resident Evil Reboot Teaser: Zach Cregger’s Horror Vision Unveiled at CinemaCon

The Resident Evil film franchise has grossed over $1.2 billion worldwide since its debut in 2002. However, a previous reboot attempt in 2021, Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City, underperformed critically and commercially. Now, Sony Pictures is trying again with a fresh vision.

This time, the studio has tapped Zach Cregger, the writer, producer, and director behind last year’s Oscar-winning horror film Weapons. Cregger’s take on the franchise debuted as a teaser at CinemaCon and was later released to the public.

From Games to Films: A Brief History of Resident Evil

The Resident Evil franchise began in 1996 with the release of the original video game, which became an instant commercial and critical success. The franchise expanded into sequels, comics, novels, and a blockbuster film series directed by Paul W.S. Anderson and starring Milla Jovovich.

While the films were box office hits, they diverged significantly from the games, retaining only a few key characters and the core premise. Critics were divided, though the franchise’s massive earnings remained undeniable.

Why the 2021 Reboot Failed

Development on the first reboot began in 2017, culminating in the release of Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City in 2021. Director Roberts Johannes aimed to ground the film more closely in the source material, even recreating the iconic Spencer Mansion with fixed camera angles from the original game.

Despite these efforts, the film was critically panned and underperformed at the box office, grossing just $42 million globally against a $25 million budget. Sony subsequently canceled plans for a direct sequel, and a 2022 Netflix series based on the franchise was also scrapped after a lackluster first season.

What’s Next for the Resident Evil Reboot?

With Zach Cregger at the helm, Sony is betting on a new creative direction to revive the franchise. The teaser released at CinemaCon and to the public marks the first glimpse of this reboot, but whether it can win back audiences remains to be seen.