Roberts says he was not tasked with recreating Anderson’s films. “Was not [making a remake]. We’re going to be completely different [direction]”It was really a pleasure to get the reins of a new franchise, hopefully, it’s really his own thing,” says Roberts. One that he says deals with the “history and history” of the games.
Roberts’ main background as a filmmaker is in horror films, directing films such as The Strangers: Prey at Night and the shark horror film 47 Meters Down.
Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City will partner with Constantin Film, the production company behind the previous Resident Evil film franchise, but it appears the company and director are both looking for Resident Evil in a new direction for this origin story.
Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City will take the story of both the first and second Resident Evil games and tell an origin story with all the main characters, including Chris and Claire Redfield, Jill Valentine and Leon S. Kennedy.
You can view the announced cast in the slideshow below.
Check out IGN’s full Resident Evil coverage of SXSW, including how “whimsical as f * ck” Roberts plans to make the film and some of his surprising influences for the film.
MattTM Kim is IGN’s news editor.