Zach Cregger and Austin Abrams discussed their forthcoming Resident Evil film at Comic-Con, describing an adaptation designed by a director with deep affection for the games. Abrams plays Bryan, a medical courier sent to Raccoon City who must survive a night of escalating danger, while also confronting a personal relationship crisis. The filmmakers’ emphasis on familiar franchise elements and a new central character matters because the film aims to appeal to established fans without simply retelling a game storyline.

Cregger, who co-wrote the Sony film with Shay Hatten, said the T-virus and Umbrella Corporation are essential components of the story. He described Bryan as a young man unsettled by his pregnant girlfriend and uncertain future, whose private anxieties are abruptly overtaken by a genuine horror scenario. Resident Evil is due for release on 18 September and is the latest cinema adaptation of Capcom’s long-running, highly successful horror game series.