Chandler Riggs, known for his role as Carl Grimes in The Walking Dead, has directed and starred in a 20-minute fan film adaptation of Resident Evil 7. The short centers on the garage fight scene between protagonist Ethan Winters and Jack Baker.
A notable deviation from the source material is Riggs' decision to show Ethan's face. In both Resident Evil 7 and its sequel, Ethan is largely kept off-screen due to the games' first-person perspective, with Capcom offering only brief glimpses. Riggs acknowledged the intimidation of this choice, explaining in an interview with IGN that it was a significant departure from the game's established presentation.
Riggs stated that while aiming for faithfulness to the game, showing Ethan's face was a necessary compromise to tell the story effectively in a live-action format and appeal to a broader audience beyond existing fans. He compared the challenge to that faced by Zach Cregger with his upcoming Resident Evil movie, emphasizing that "it's impossible to please everybody." Riggs believes that such adaptations, even with alterations, can introduce more people to the franchise.
Riggs expressed his admiration for Cregger's approach to adapting Resident Evil, noting that he respects the freedom to deviate from lore. He had hoped his fan film would be released before Cregger's official adaptation but stated that "parts just didn't align that way." The actor also conveyed his enthusiasm for Cregger's film, eagerly anticipating a "good, true-to-the-game live-action adaptation of Resident Evil."
Driven by a passion for filmmaking and collaboration, Riggs stated he would be open to working with Cregger in the future. "I'm all for it. Listen, my phone is open. Hit my line!" he remarked.