The Resident Evil franchise has had mixed success when it comes to live-action film adaptations. On one hand, the Resident Evil movies have made a lot of money, and are in fact some of the most successful video game movies ever made. On the other hand, pretty much all of the Resident Evil movies have been universally panned by critics and fans alike, with many not happy with the way the films have handled the source material.
Now that the previous Resident Evil movie series has concluded, filmmakers are looking to reboot the franchise with a film that's far more accurate to the spirit of the games. Horror filmmakers Johannes Roberts wrote the script and is also directing the movie, Sony Pictures handling the distribution.
When it comes to the Resident Evil movie reboot, a lot is still being kept underwraps. However, the details that we do know about the upcoming movie should make fans of Capcom's survival-horror franchise plenty excited.
Cast and Characters
The Resident Evil movie reboot first started generating significant excitement from the community when it confirmed its cast of characters, comprising of some of the most popular characters in series history. The Resident Evil movie reboot has cast Kaya Scodelario as Claire Redfield, Robbie Amell as Chris Redfield, Hannah John-Kamen as Jill Valentine, and Avan Jogia as Leon S. Kennedy. So the main playable protagonists from the first two Resident Evil video games will be well-represented in the reboot film.
As far as villains go, the Resident Evil movie reboot is slacking in that department either. Tom Hopper of Umbrella Academy fame has been cast as Albert Wesker, whereas Neal McDonough has been cast as William Birkin. More recently, Donal Logue has been cast as Chief Brian Irons in the Resident Evil movie reboot.
And finally, Chad Rook and Lily Gao will also appear in the Resident Evil movie reboot, though their specific roles have yet to be revealed at the time of this writing.
Plot Summary
While specific plot details have yet to be revealed, it has been confirmed that the Resident Evil movie reboot is set in the year 1998, and will feature both the Spencer Estate from Resident Evil 1 as well as Raccoon City from Resident Evil 2. The Resident Evil movie will try to be scary, whereas the previous Resident Evil movies were more like action movies than anything else.
It's possible that the Resident Evil movie reboot will tell two stories at once, with part of the film covering the events of the mansion from RE1, and the other half showcasing the events of Resident Evil 2. However, that's just speculation at this time. How exactly Roberts plans on structuring the film is unclear, but it will definitely be interesting to see.
Resident Evil 1 and 2 Locations
Filming on the Resident Evil movie reboot is well underway, and so set photos of the film have started appearing online. These set photos seemingly confirm that some of the most important events and locations from the first two Resident Evil video games will make an appearance. Resident Evil movie set photos have confirmed that Emmy's Diner, the Raccoon City Police Department, and the ill-fate semi-truck from Resident Evil 2 will all be featured in the new movie.
Resident Evil movie set photos have also shown a dark Arklay forest and helicopters, which are likely for scenes representing the first Resident Evil video game. While it's difficult to say with certainty until fans can see the final product, the Resident Evil movie set photos seem to be a promising indication that the movie will indeed be accurate to the video games.
Possible Lisa Trevor
The Resident Evil movie reboot will undoubtedly have zombies for the characters to face off against, but other Resident Evil monsters have yet to be confirmed. It's possible that the infamous Resident Evil remake monster Lisa Trevor will be featured in the new movie, though, as actress/contortionist Marina Mazepa has been seen practicing stunts that seem to mimic the movements of Lisa in the game. Of course, it's entirely possible that Mazepa is practicing for a different role, so fans should keep that in mind.
Besides Lisa Trevor, there are quite a few other Resident Evil monsters that could be featured in the reboot, ranging from the Tyrant to lickers, and more. Fans will have to standby to learn more about the different monsters that may or may not be included in the Resident Evil movie reboot.
Resident Evil will premiere in theaters in 2021.