Following a nasty rough patch pockmarked by poorly-received games and spinoff media, Resident Evil is back and better than ever. The franchise’s return to form began back in 2017 with the experimental but no less fantastic Resident Evil 7, which ditched the series’ traditional over-the-shoulder gameplay for a first-person perspective. To date, it remains one of (if not the) best games playable in virtual reality and, were it not for this year’s Resident Evil 2 remake, would likely be considered the best modern entry.
But what’s next for Capcom’s storied and globally recognized brand? In its native medium, a remake of Resident Evil 3: Nemesis seems to be the most likely next step and there is, of course, still the mysterious Netflix TV series currently in development. The latter’s existence has been known for quite some time but what of specifics? Leaks and rumors are slim; confirmed details even rarer, but there are some notable revelations to discuss at this early stage.
For starters, we know that rights holders to the Resident Evil film series, Constantin Film, is once again involved. Whether you consider that a promising or worrying sign largely comes down to your own personal view of Paul W.S. Anderson’s six-part movie series. Speaking of which, it’s worth noting that the director is unlikely to return for this reimagining, which, according to Deadline, will “expand the Resident Evil universe and deepen the existing mythology.”
A frequent criticism of Anderson’s films from fans of the source material was their relative lack of adherence to the core games, which only loosely adapted plot details and characters. Whether the Netflix series will stick more rigidly to Capcom’s original synopsis remains to be seen, though early signs are reassuring. “The drama series will explore the dark inner workings of the Umbrella Corporation and the new world order caused by the outbreak of the T-Virus,” continues Deadline, adding that the inclusion of all of the series’ ‘signature’ elements has also been mandated.
Whether that encompasses the realm of characters, settings and narrative is not yet known, though the premise provided above at least implies a heavy focus on Umbrella, the series’ overarching main antagonist.
As far as a release date is concerned, not even the slightest of hints has been provided by Netflix or the production company for Resident Evil‘s TV debut, but we’ll be staying all ears over the next few months. Stay tuned.
