Zach Cregger’s ‘Resident Evil’ Is a “Complete New Set Up”
Video games are incredibly difficult to translate to the big screen, but decades of successes and failures now provide a clearer roadmap for how to approach the process effectively.
From a design standpoint, films such as Super Mario Bros. (1993) and Sonic the Hedgehog illustrate how critical it is for characters to closely resemble the iconic appearances audiences have come to recognize and associate with the source material.
As for the story, movies that stick too closely to the source material often struggle. The best adaptations are usually those where filmmakers carve their own path and play to their strengths, rather than trying to please every fan, even if that is not always a popular approach.
A major property for video game fans is Resident Evil, which is next being brought to life by Weapons and Barbarian filmmaker Zach Cregger.
Deadline caught up with Constantin CEO Oliver Berben, who had some really wonderful things to say both about the company’s approach to Resident Evil and films in general.
On September 18, Sony will release Zach Cregger’s version of Constantin’s prize IP Resident Evil, which is set to be a “complete new set up” says Berben of the franchise.
It’s currently in edit for Cregger’s Resident Evil, which Berben says is “far away from everything that is connected to Resident Evil, only because Zach Cregger has his own style.”
When it came to entrusting Constantin’s prize IP Resident Evil with a new voice, Berben admits it was a no-brainer to give Cregger “the carte blanche to do whatever he wanted to do with that IP.”
He continues: “With Resident Evil, we have had an incredible journey with one of the most successful international IPs of more than a billion dollars in box office for many years, and now we are creating something new, not just a new story idea, but to allow a new generation to take the IP into their own hands and form something different.”
How are they able to take such filmmaker-friendly swings?
“The opportunity for us in the U.S. is unique,” says Berben. “We have an advantage because we are coming with the territories already. We’ll make things work. We can give filmmakers the opportunity to finally make their movies.”
For horror fans, this is an encouraging development. While audiences often call for more original films, the current focus on established IP is unlikely to change. The most promising outcome is for projects that give directors the freedom to bring a distinct voice to familiar material.
In a completely reactive industry, all eyes are on Resident Evil.
Categorized:News