A reboot of Resident Evil is in the works, with director and screenwriter Zach Cregger, known for his acclaimed film Barbarian, at the helm of the project. According to reports, the new film aims to return to the horror roots that characterize the original games of the franchise, marking a significant shift from the previous movies that focused on the creation of the character Alice, played by Milla Jovovich.
An attempt to finally make a version faithful to the games
The announcement has sparked an intense conflict among four major studios, including Warner Bros. and Netflix, to acquire the rights to this new adaptation. This is partly due to the critical success of Barbarian and the high ratings that Cregger’s upcoming film, Weapons, has received in screen tests, even though it has not yet been publicly released. Fans of the franchise hope that this new installment will be more faithful to the narrative and spirit of the games that have captured their interest for decades.
The latest Resident Evil movie, Resident Evil: Welcome To Raccoon City, was released in 2021 and was criticized for its poor box office performance, as well as for not capturing the essence of the games. Unlike the previous six films, which were widely discredited and focused on the character of Alice, this new project aims to fully leverage the original material that started the popular saga.
Pushing once again the possibility of a successful return to cinema, Cregger’s fresh offering could signify a new era for Resident Evil adaptations. The competition among studios also reflects the ongoing interest in the franchise, which has already expanded its universe with various animated films and series on platforms like Netflix, where a live-action series starring Lance Reddick was also released. Additionally, it seems that we will have more video games from the franchise very soon.
