Director Zach Cregger, known for his comedic background, intends to ground his upcoming live-action Resident Evil film, moving away from the more fantastical elements seen in some of the games.
"I feel like some of the Resident Evil games get a little magical," Cregger stated during a Reddit Ask Me Anything session. He specifically cited Resident Evil Village, which features a character capable of transforming into a bird, as an example of elements he is omitting. Cregger explained that for his film adaptation, he is focusing on the T-Virus and its mutations, striving for a more primal and chaotic atmosphere that reflects an outbreak in its early stages. This approach means excluding elements like the iconic, hulking Mr. X, as Cregger wants to avoid introducing explanations for such extravagant attire in the immediate aftermath of a bioweapon incident.
Cregger believes that his experience with sketch comedy has honed his ability to identify and execute "absurd" moments with precise timing, a skill he aims to leverage in the film. Despite his creative control over the movie's world, Cregger expressed little confidence in his own survival within it.
"There's no chance I would survive," Cregger admitted. He elaborated that he would likely freeze up during an encounter, perhaps even inviting an attack. "I wouldn't have survived the cop car attack because I would have probably just dropped to my knees and just been like, just bite me, just f***ing do it. I can't handle that kind of energy. No, I would die so fast."
The Resident Evil film is slated for a September 18 release and is anticipated to perform strongly in its opening weekend. The movie's visuals are reportedly inspired by several of the series' most acclaimed games.