Key facts
- Director Zach Cregger was surprised by fan backlash to his Resident Evil film adaptation.
- Cregger aimed to honor the spirit of the Resident Evil games rather than retell their stories.
- The film follows Bryan, an original character played by Austin Abrams, who is a courier caught in a viral outbreak in Raccoon City.
- Reviews from NME, The Jam Report, and Looper were generally positive, praising the film's cinematic translation of the gaming experience.
- The Resident Evil video game series, first launched in 1996, has sold 213 million copies worldwide.
- Previous Resident Evil film adaptations and a Netflix series received poor reviews.
Director Zach Cregger, known for horror hits like 'Barbarian,' has found himself defending his new Resident Evil film adaptation against fan criticism. Cregger stated he was "not prepared" for the backlash, which stemmed from complaints that he was cashing in on the franchise's name and not including beloved characters or monsters.
Cregger explained his intention was to create a film that honored the spirit of playing the Resident Evil games, rather than a direct retelling of their stories. He admitted to being "naive" about the potential fan reaction, believing audiences would be excited by a new take on the franchise.
The Resident Evil video game series, first released by Capcom in 1996, has been a significant success, selling 213 million copies globally. The film adaptation stars Austin Abrams as Bryan, a courier who becomes entangled in a viral outbreak in Raccoon City.
Despite fan concerns, reviews from publications like NME, The Jam Report, and Looper have been largely positive, with critics commending Cregger's ability to translate the gaming experience into a cinematic format. However, some reviews noted that the film's encounters became repetitive as it progressed.
This is not the first film adaptation of Resident Evil; a series of six films overseen by Paul WS Anderson, starring Milla Jovovich, were released starting in 2002. More recent attempts, including a 2021 reboot and a 2022 Netflix series, also failed to impress critics. The live-action rights are owned by Constantin Film, whose agreement with Capcom reportedly prevents films from being set in the same timeline as the games. Cregger mentioned he had no direct contact with Capcom during the film's development.