Capcom’s Resident Evil video game series has already been adapted into six feature films starring Milla Jovovich’s Alice, a character created for the big screen. However, Alice tended to push the game’s characters into the background. But that won’t be the case for the newly announced Resident Evil reboot film. Writer and director Johannes Roberts is creating a new movie that will be directly based on the first two games in the series.
Via Deadline, Roberts has already lined up The Maze Runner‘s Kaya Scodelario as Claire Redfield, with Robbie Amell (Upload) as her brother, Chris Redfield. Hannah John-Kamen (Ant-Man and the Wasp) will also co-star as Jill Valentine. Additionally, Avan Jogia (Zombieland: Double Tap) will play Leon S. Kennedy, with Tom Hopper (The Umbrella Academy) as Albert Wesker, and Neal McDonough (Yellowstone) as William Birkin.
The report also notes that the story will take place in 1998, rather than moving the fateful events of Raccoon City’s fall to the present. In a statement to Deadline, Roberts explained why he wanted to revisit the original games.
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“With this movie, I really wanted to go back to the original first two games and re-create the terrifying visceral experience I had when I first played them whilst at the same time telling a grounded human story about a small dying American town that feels both relatable and relevant to today’s audiences,” said Roberts.
Constantin Film will produce the new adaption with James Harris from Tea Shop Productions and Hartley Gorenstein. Sony Pictures will distribute the reboot in America through its Screen Gems label.
This project is also separate from Netflix’s upcoming Resident Evil live-action series. A CGI animated series, Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness, will also hit Netflix next year.
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