The Resident Evil franchise has long struggled to make the transition from game to screen, but the IP's next movie may actually be perfect for anyone who hated the much-derided Netflix adaptation. Like the Milla Jovovich-led movies before it, Netflix's short-lived Resident Evil series failed to make much of an impression with critics. However, judging by the Resident Evil: Death Island teaser trailer, the upcoming CG feature film can go a long way towards rectifying some of the show's more egregious mistakes.
After the long-running movie series of the same name came to an end with the sixth installment, 2016's Resident Evil: The Final Chapter, there have been several failed attempts to reanimate the corpse of the franchise. In addition to Netflix's 2022 effort, projects like Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness and Resident Evil: Welcome To Raccoon City have tried unsuccessfully to bridge the gap between the original iconic games and big and small-screen entertainment. Although a live-action Netflix series initially seemed like an exciting step forward, a confusing story, bungled lore, and questionable script all contributed to its downfall. Yet, despite the apparently gloomy prognosis for the franchise, there is evidence that Resident Evil: Death Island can finally deliver.
Resident Evil: Death Island Avoids Netflix's Show Problems
Although Netflix's Resident Evil did include some core game elements for fans, its premise was fatally flawed from the outset. While game characters like Albert Wesker (Lance Reddick) played a prominent role, the decision to build an original story around him and his family and split it across two time periods created a whole host of other problems. Taking place in both 2022 and 2036, the adaptation ignored not only the original games' settings, but also their characters. Figures like Leon S. Kennedy, Chris Redfield, and Jill Valentine were all relegated to the sidelines. While dodgy dialogue certainly didn't help, it was this failure to introduce Resident Evil's most famous faces that arguably contributed most to the Netflix show's failure.
Even from a 30-second teaser trailer, it's evident that Death Island is successfully avoiding these hazards. The footage reveals that Leon, Chris, and Jill will finally all feature onscreen together. This alone is enough to suggest that Resident Evil: Death Island has learned from Netflix's Resident Evil mistakes. Although the project is CG rather than live-action, this narrative decision means that the movie can better recapture the tone and feel of the original games. With any luck, this can point the way forward for future installments.
Why Resident Evil: Death Island Is good For The Franchise
After a succession of failures, an animated movie that leans into many of Resident Evil's most popular elements can help reinvigorate interest in the franchise as a whole. Beyond the characters of Chris, Jill, and Leon, Death Island looks to be introducing a host of imaginative new monsters, from aquatic Lickers to zombie sharks. The creative freedoms provided by animation mean that Resident Evil: Death Island can deliver some truly spectacular set pieces on par with some of the games' best moments. Another live-action retread, by contrast, could risk repeating the disappointingly understated tone of other adaptations.
For all its failures, Resident Evil remains a franchise with incredible potential. Its status among gamers means that any adaptation will always attract interest, which – coupled with decades of lore and intricate storytelling – makes it a potential goldmine. Just because most theatrical adaptations have failed to do Resident Evil justice doesn't mean that such a project is impossible. Resident Evil: Death Island may not be perfect, but the trailer suggests that it can at least provide a blueprint for the future.