Honestly, being a Resident Evil fan is basically an exercise in perpetual heartbreak. You’d think that with decades of source material and a literal blueprint for tension, Hollywood would have nailed it by now. Instead, we’ve spent years bouncing between Milla Jovovich’s gravity-defying action sequences and a reboot that tried so hard to be "faithful" that it forgot to be a good movie. Now, the whispers of a new Resident Evil movie remake or a direct sequel to the 2021 Welcome to Raccoon City are circulating again. It’s exhausting. But we need to talk about why this franchise is so hard to adapt and what’s actually happening behind the scenes at Constantin Film and Sony Pictures.
The problem isn't a lack of content. It’s a fundamental misunderstanding of what makes the games scary. When people search for news on a Resident Evil movie remake, they aren't looking for more CGI explosions. They want the feeling of a door creaking open in a silent hallway.
The Welcome to Raccoon City fallout and the "Remake" curse
Johannes Roberts tried. He really did. When Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City dropped in 2021, it was marketed as the ultimate Resident Evil movie remake—a return to the roots. It mashed the first two games together, giving us the Spencer Mansion and the Raccoon City Police Department in one go. On paper, that sounds like a dream. In reality? It was a cramped, low-budget mess that did a massive disservice to characters like Leon S. Kennedy.
Fans were livid. Casting aside, the script turned Leon into a bumbling comic relief character, which is a wild choice for a guy who eventually becomes a government super-agent. The movie currently sits with a "Rotten" score on Rotten Tomatoes, and while it found a second life on streaming platforms, it didn't exactly set the box office on fire, pulling in roughly $42 million against a $25 million budget. That’s "break-even" territory, not "blockbuster franchise" territory.
Yet, rumors of a reboot or a "remake" of the remake persist. Why? Because the IP is too valuable to sit on. Sony knows that the Resident Evil 4 remake in the gaming world was a massive hit. They want that same lightning in a bottle. There have been reports—specifically via Sudbury.com—that the production company received a provincial grant for a project titled "Umbrella Chronicles." Whether that’s a direct sequel or a total Resident Evil movie remake remains the million-dollar question. If it's a remake, it would be the third time in two decades we’ve seen the Raccoon City incident on the big screen. We’re reaching Peter Parker’s uncle levels of repetitive origin stories.
Why the Netflix series failed (and what movies should learn)
We can't talk about remakes without mentioning the 2022 Netflix live-action series. It was canceled after one season. It deserved to be. By trying to create a "new" story involving Albert Wesker’s kids in a futuristic New Raccoon City, the showrunners completely alienated the core demographic. It lacked the claustrophobia. It lacked the stakes.
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Movies need to realize that Resident Evil is a "bottled" horror. It works best when characters are trapped. The Spencer Mansion is a character. The Raccoon City Police Department is a character. When you broaden the scope to global conspiracies too early, you lose the fear.
What a successful Resident Evil movie remake actually needs
If Sony is serious about another Resident Evil movie remake, they have to stop trying to please everyone. You can't make a movie for the "general audience" and the "hardcore fans" simultaneously if you don't understand the tone.
Slow down the pacing. The games are about resource management and dread. Most Resident Evil movies feel like they’re on a treadmill at max speed. Let the characters breathe. Let the audience sit in the dark for five minutes before a Licker jumps through the ceiling.
Practical effects over CGI.
The 1996 game was terrifying because the monsters felt visceral. In the 2021 movie, the CGI Birkin transformation looked like it belonged in a PS3-era cutscene. Use prosthetics. Look at what Fede Álvarez did with Evil Dead or Alien: Romulus. That’s the blueprint.Pick a protagonist and stick to them.
Welcome to Raccoon City tried to juggle Claire, Chris, Leon, Jill, Wesker, and Chief Irons. None of them got enough screen time to matter. A proper Resident Evil movie remake should focus on Jill Valentine in the mansion. Period. That’s the movie.
The "Biohazard" vs. "Action" divide
There is a massive divide in the fandom between the "survival horror" purists and the "superhero Leon" fans. The Paul W.S. Anderson movies—love them or hate them—made billions of dollars globally. They were successful because they leaned entirely into the action-schlock genre. They didn't pretend to be horror.
The latest Resident Evil movie remake attempts are failing because they are caught in the middle. They aren't stylish enough to be great action movies, and they aren't atmospheric enough to be great horror movies. They’re just... there. To fix this, a new director needs to commit to the "Biohazard" aesthetic. Gritty, dirty, and genuinely gross.
The Rumored "Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles"
The industry is currently buzzing about a project reportedly in development under the working title Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles. While some speculate this is a sequel to Roberts' film, others believe it's a total pivot.
If this is the next Resident Evil movie remake, the title suggests a broader look at the fall of Umbrella. This is dangerous territory. The more you explain Umbrella, the less scary they become. The mystery of the "Old Man" Spencer and the viral outbreaks is always more compelling when viewed from the perspective of a terrified cop or a S.T.A.R.S. member who has no idea what’s going on.
Actionable steps for the savvy Resident Evil fan
If you're looking for the definitive Resident Evil experience while waiting for Hollywood to figure its life out, don't just wait for the next trailer. The film industry is fickle, but the ecosystem is huge.
- Watch the CG Movies: If you want canon-accurate stories, skip the live-action stuff for a moment. Resident Evil: Degeneration, Damnation, and Vendetta are actually produced by Capcom. They aren't cinematic masterpieces, but they get the characters right. Resident Evil: Death Island (2023) is basically the "Avengers" of the RE universe.
- Track the "Umbrella Chronicles" Project: Keep an eye on production listings in Ontario, Canada. That’s where the last film was shot, and it’s where the tax credits for the rumored new project are centered.
- Play the RE4 Remake (and DLC): If you haven't played the Separate Ways DLC, you’re missing the best cinematic storytelling the franchise has ever had. It’s better than any of the movies.
- Support Independent Horror: If you want the vibe of a Resident Evil movie remake without the baggage, check out films like Barbarian or Talk to Me. These filmmakers understand modern tension better than the current stewards of the RE film franchise.
The reality is that a Resident Evil movie remake will happen again. And probably again after that. The brand is too big to die. But until a studio decides to prioritize atmosphere over "Easter egg" fanservice, we’re likely going to keep getting movies that feel like a bunch of cosplayers running around a nicely lit set. We deserve better. We deserve a movie that actually makes us afraid of the dark again.