Netflix has finally released the first trailers for their upcoming Resident Evil series based on the iconic video game franchise, which will debut on the streamer on July 14th. The trailers only revealed little glimpses at the show's premise but fan reaction was quite mixed and very vocal across social media.
While some fans were excited to see what the show can do on a platform the size of Netflix, previous movie adaptations have left many disappointed and preferring to be cautiously optimistic about what the show may have in store for audiences.
Sonic Remains The King Of Video Game Adaptations
With two wildly popular movies already and no signs of slowing down, Sonic The Hedgehog has emerged as one of the most successful video game t0 movie adaptations ever. With the first looks at Resident Evil not showing much in the way of classic franchise characters or what the story will be, fans were left wondering why the show wouldn't just follow the blueprint laid out by Sonic's success and draw more for the show from the source material.
The Milla Jovovich Resident Evil movies were successful at the box office, but some of the biggest complaints from fans of those were their lack of incorporating storylines and plot points from the games.
Why Not Do What Makes The Games So Popular?
With over 25 games in the franchise, there is plenty of material for Netflix and the show's creators to pull from. While some monster and zombie designs seem to be straight from the game, the lack of clear storylines in the trailers has fans worried that the show will opt to tell its' own tale rather than feature the characters that fans have loved for decades.
Without any distinguishing characters revealed, it feels like Netflix may just be using the Resident Evil name to generate interest in a generic zombie show instead of utilizing Resident Evil's memorable characters.
Shots At Netflix's Recent Cuts And Cancelations
It's no secret that Netflix has had recent issues with losing subscribers forcing them to cut budgets and cancel shows that fans enjoyed. So with a property as popular as Resident Evil fans are concerned that the show will do something different with the franchise but then get canceled before it can fully explore its' ideas.
Given that Netflix doesn't release viewership numbers regularly, social media and word of mouth may be the only way to gauge how popular the new show is. With an eight-episode first season debuting July 14th, fans are hoping they'll at least get a complete story just in case Netflix is quick to pull the plug yet again.
Will The Show Tie Into The Video Games At All?
While details about the show are scarce, the creators have shared that events from the games will be considered in the show's plot, leaving fans wondering just what from the games will make it in.
One of the franchise's biggest villains, Albert Wesker, will be in the show played by actor Lance Reddick, leaving fans wondering how he will revive after dying in the game Resident Evil 5. Even though one of the game's biggest antagonists will be in the show, the cast list doesn't feature any other names that fans can recognize from the franchise. It's only the first look but the longer Netflix waits to reveal more about what's going on, the more they run the risk of fans losing interest.
Will The Games Take Anything From The Show?
With Albert Wesker confirmed to return despite being dead in the video games, fans are wondering if Wesker's comeback will be copied in the games. Dying in a video game is like dying in a comic book: it's semi-permanent at best.
If the show does a good job bringing Wesker back to life, there's a good chance the games will look to incorporate it as well with Wesker being one of the series' biggest antagonists. If the show's popular with viewers, there's no telling how many things the games may look to incorporate to capitalize on the interest.
Fool The Fans Once...
Just last year, Resident Evil: Welcome To Racoon City was released in theaters promising fans a more faithful adaptation than the Milla Jovovich-starring Resident Evil franchise that came before it.
While the movie was more true to the first two video games, it was a box-office bomb with many critics complaining about paper-thin characters and too many deep insider references to the games that only die-hard fans would pick up on. Despite the showrunner for the series assuring that this is "a Resident Evil show" fans are taking more of a wait-and-see approach to avoid being disappointed two years in a row.
Dream Casting Opportunities Missed
Fan casting is a tried and true tradition with any big movie or show, but Anthony Starr as Albert Wesker is one that has remained popular with RE fans for years.
Though Lance Reddick is a great actor and fans are excited to see his take on the character, many took to social media upset that the show wouldn't opt to cast Starr, best known as Homelander in Amazon's The Boys. A lack of many well-known stars also has fans worried that the show's overall quality may suffer due to a lack of star power.
A Netflix Budget Will Get Put To Use
While fan reaction to the first previews has been mixed, many fans were thrilled that Resident Evil looks to at least have a good-sized budget behind it. Netflix is known for typically having high production values on their original content, so the zombie and other creature effects should at least look as if they're pulled straight from the game.
One area that 2021's Welcome To Racoon City was often criticized for was the cheap-looking special effects that made the movie look more like a SyFy original and less like a blockbuster.
The Story May Be Different, But The Creatures Look The Same
While the zombies may be what Resident Evil is known for, the series has featured all sorts of mutated creatures over the years. Fans may have been disappointed to not recognize many characters or get an idea of what kind of ground the story will cover, but accurate creature designs will go a long way towards helping fans get excited about the show.
The trailers and early photos indicate the mutated dogs, lickers, and gravediggers will all appear in the show. Combined with Netflix's production values, there may be plenty more monsters waiting to be revealed that the trailers don't show.
Could It Really Be The Worst Video Game Adaptation?
Some fans were completely unsold on the series with many drawing comparisons to the video adaptations by director Uwe Boll. Movies based on games like House Of The Dead, BloodRayne, and Alone In The Dark are all considered to be some of the worst video game adaptations ever, giving Boll a bit of infamy in the eyes of these franchises' fans.
Though the budgets and production values will certainly be higher than those movies, fans are going to be much more interested in the show's story, ready to go through every detail looking for how it ties into the franchise they love.