The recently released trailer for Zach Cregger's new "Resident Evil" film, "Resident Evil: The Night of Outbreak," has ignited a polarized reaction among fans of the long-running franchise.
Many viewers felt that while the trailer successfully established a horror atmosphere, it leaned more towards an original thriller than a clear adaptation rooted in the "Resident Evil" game universe. Some fans even described the film's aesthetic as closer to "28 Days Later" than the Raccoon City biohazard events.
The trailer prominently features original protagonists and new adversaries. While it includes subtle nods to the series, such as green herbs, it largely avoids showcasing familiar characters, weapons, or locations, leading some fans to question if the film deviates too much from the source material's spirit.
Cregger has previously stated his intention not to simply retell familiar stories but rather to evoke the original fear of playing "Resident Evil" for the first time, through the perspective of new characters.
Amidst the controversy, TheBatman, a non-official lorekeeper known for meticulously compiling "Resident Evil" plotlines and settings (and previously featured by IGN), urged fans to remain calm. He noted that Cregger had already acknowledged the film would not strictly adhere to game canon, a fact further reinforced by the trailer. TheBatman suggested that this film, much like the previous Paul W.S. Anderson-directed series and the Netflix show, would likely be an adaptation with minimal ties to the main game storyline.
Cregger had initially described the film's setting as concurrent with the "Resident Evil 2" Raccoon City incident, placing it in September 1998 within the game's official timeline. However, fans quickly pointed out the trailer's depiction of a snowy Raccoon City and a protagonist using a smartphone flashlight, details that clearly contradict the 1998 era. TheBatman also believes these discrepancies indicate the film is set in an alternate universe rather than an extension of the game's established canon. 
Nevertheless, he highlighted that the trailer still contains subtle details for longtime fans, such as the green herbs and a distinct answering machine sound effect directly sampled from the original PS1 versions of "Resident Evil 2" and "Resident Evil 3." Regarding the multi-limbed creature featured in the film, he speculated it might be inspired by Nyx from "Resident Evil Outbreak: File 2."
TheBatman concluded that the film appears to be an original horror story wrapped in "Resident Evil" branding. However, given Cregger's track record with "Barbarian" and "Weapons," he remains intrigued by the director's potential interpretation. Co-written by Cregger and Shay Hatten, the film is slated for release on September 18, 2026.
via： IGN