Fans just got our first look at Zach Cregger's Resident Evil film, and while the footage looks surprisingly good, questions regarding the canon are already surfacing. Many viewers are wondering exactly how this new cinematic entry fits into the established timeline of the beloved video game franchise.
A New Perspective on Raccoon City
During an IGN trailer breakdown, Cregger explained that his goal was to capture the feeling of playing the games within a cinematic format. He clarified that Zach Cregger's Resident Evil film is designed to live within the established world without disrupting existing lore.
"My rule for this movie was to try and make a movie that felt like my experience of playing the games, that could live in the world of Resident Evil," Cregger stated. He further noted, "This movie takes place alongside the events of Resident Evil 2... it's just another dude, on another mission on the other side of town."
Meeting Bryan: The Unlikely Survivor
A crucial detail for fans is that the film will not feature any of the iconic video game protagonists. While Leon S. Kennedy is busy navigating the police station, the film follows a new character named Bryan.
Cregger describes this as an "alternate storyline" that takes place on the periphery of the main heroes. This allows the story to unfold without breaking the established universe. The experience is intended to feel much more vulnerable than the games:
- The protagonist has no prior combat experience.
- The character is physically unequipped for a zombie outbreak. $* The narrative focuses on panicking from one life-threatening situation to another.
"It’s like if I were thrust into a Resident Evil video game," Cregger told IGN. "I’d be totally unequipped. I’m not good with guns. I’m totally out of shape. It would just be me panicking."
Honoring Game Mechanics and Visual Language
Rather than creating a carbon copy of the games, Zach Cregger's Resident Evil film aims to honor the franchise through its structure and tension. The film will focus heavily on resource management and the fear of running out of supplies.
Cregger intends to follow a specific progression of intensity and difficulty:
- Weapon Progression: Starting with a simple pistol and graduating to shotguns and MP5s.
- Environmental Obstacles: Using keys and padlocks as primary narrative barriers.
- Iconic Elements: Featuring recognizable items, such as an exact replica of the green herb from Resident Evil 4.
The visual style will also mimic the gameplay experience. Cregger plans to use a wide lens with an over-the-shoulder perspective for most of the movie. "It feels like the way you play a game where we’re kind of perched on his shoulder, and as he turns a corner, we turn a corner with him," he explained.
A Timeline Without the Nuke
While the film captures the chaos of Raccoon City, it will deviate from the end of the Resident Evil 2 timeline. Specifically, the nuclear destruction of the city will not be depicted.
Cregger noted that while the timing aligns with the events of the second game, "that nuking doesn't happen in this movie." The story focuses on "day one" in Raccoon City. Since the bomb is dropped roughly a day after Leon and Claire escape, the film can exist within the canon without showing the mushroom cloud.
Ultimately, the hope is that this project succeeds as a standalone piece of cinema. As Cregger describes it, the film is "a love letter to the games, that I fully, fully obsessively love."
