Zach Cregger, who has gained widespread recognition as one of the emerging directors in contemporary horror, is directing the upcoming *Resident Evil*, scheduled to debut in theaters next month. Following *Weapons* and *Barbarian*, he has built a measure of trust with a prominent horror franchise. However, there have been some worries among the *Resident Evil* fans regarding his interpretation of Capcom’s cherished series. If you’re interested in the film, we’re here to outline everything we know as of now.
## So what’s the plot of the new *Resident Evil* movie?
*Resident Evil* features *Weapons* actor Austin Abrams as Bryan, a medical courier tasked with delivering an organ to Raccoon City, famously recognized as the backdrop for the outbreak in *Resident Evil 2*. As the trailer showcases, he’s on his way to Raccoon City and having a heated phone conversation with his girlfriend when he inadvertently strikes a woman on the icy road who, despite stepping into the street, seems to have already been deceased before the collision. While Bryan looks for assistance and a phone to use, he ends up at a seemingly deserted house, where he encounters the terrors of the undead. However, we don’t currently know how much of the movie is set in that house or what other events might unfold.
## That sounds like *Resident Evil*, but where are Leon, Chris, and all my other favorites?
Unless Cregger and his team have been keeping their appearances in the film a secret, none of the familiar *Resident Evil* characters will be featured. Cregger mentioned he isn’t interested in merely retelling *Resident Evil 2*’s narrative, stating it would be “disappointing” as it has already been done.
“I aimed to convey a story that could fit within the *Resident Evil* universe but wasn’t reiterating a tale that the games have already depicted,” Cregger stated in April. “For me, I would feel there’s really no success in telling Leon’s story, as the games accomplish it so effectively. It would just end up being somewhat repetitive, and ultimately, I believe, disappointing.”
## Wait, if this occurs during the Raccoon City outbreak, why are there smartphones?
Now that we understand *Resident Evil* does not feature any characters from the video games, fans have expressed skepticism regarding the movie’s discrepancies with the original material. Bryan possesses a smartphone, while the original Raccoon City narrative in *Resident Evil 2* is set in the ‘90s, and although it snows in the film, it wasn’t snowing in Raccoon City during the game’s version of the outbreak either. This is because Cregger states that the movie is set in the present day, and he included snow since he thought it was visually appealing.
“It takes place in the snow and in 2026,” he explains. “That’s why he has an iPhone; I took creative liberties to craft a story I wanted to narrate and give the movie the aesthetic I envisioned. I am not making a precise adaptation of *Resident Evil 2*. There are variations between this film and the game, and I wish to recognize that. I don’t believe it diminishes the film in any way. I think it looks incredibly cool to have a horror film set in the snow. I haven’t seen enough of those. I love it a lot. The snow is an aesthetic choice. If the threshold for acceptance is whether I create a one-for-one adaptation, then I suppose, in that sense, I have failed. However, I believe the film is enhanced because of it.”
## Didn’t Cregger mention this was intended to be a parallel story to *Resident Evil 2*?
Yes, which is why the communication surrounding this movie has become somewhat convoluted for *Resident Evil* enthusiasts in recent months.
“Essentially, my guideline for this movie was to create a film that captured my experience of playing the game, existing within the realm of *Resident Evil*,” Cregger told IGN in April. “I feel like this movie unfolds concurrently with the events of *Resident Evil 2*. I prefer to think that what’s happening at the police station could be occurring in this universe. This is merely another person on another quest on the other side of town, dealing with his own situation.”
## So if it’s not based on a *Resident Evil* character or game, what makes it *Resident Evil*?
Cregger expresses his desire for the viewing experience to evoke the feeling of being immersed in a *Resident Evil* game as an ordinary person, rather than a Leon Kennedy-style hero capable of impressive backflips.
