‘Resident Evil’ Is Getting An Ambitious Full Franchise Reboot, Following ‘The Final Chapter’


Resident Evil film fans said goodbye to a favorite franchise with Resident Evil: The Final Chapter and even the film’s stars Milla Jovovich and Ali Larter seemed convinced that the most recent sequel was aptly named. Now, after fans have accepted that Alice’s war against Umbrella Corporation is over, there comes news that a franchise reboot is in the works. This won’t be a reboot of the first film to test the waters. Instead, a Constantin Films rep revealed that there’s a plan for a six-film reboot in the works.

Resident Evil – Once More, With Feeling!

Cannes Film Festival is one of the best places to glean new film news and Variety has scored a big scoop, during a talk with Martin Moszkowicz, chairman of the board with Constantin Films. The executive revealed that the Resident Evil franchise isn’t as gone and forgotten as fans have been led to believe. Only five months after Resident Evil: The Final Chapter premiered in theaters comes the news that Constantin Films is planning a full franchise reboot.

While the German-owned studio had planned to end the franchise, Resident Evil: The Final Chapter performed much better at box offices, proving that there’s still immense fan interest in the video game adaptation. The Final Chapter has grossed $312 million, since its theatrical debut, with $160 million of that number coming from China.

‘Resident Evil: The Final Chapter’ may not have been the last film after all. [Image by Constantin Films]

It makes sense that China’s box office returns represent more than half of the Resident Evil film’s total gross profits. Sony released arranged China releases of Resident Evil: Afterlife and Resident Evil: Extinction to coincide with the release of The Final Chapter, driving up interest in the franchise.

While Moszkowicz was eager to share the news of the Resident Evil reboot, he was much more tight-lipped about revealing the details. It’s anyone’s guess as to who will direct and star in the rebooted franchise. The Constantin Films executive was equally secretive about the planned plots and how the new films would fit into the franchise.

Ali Larter On Playing Claire Redfield And Resident Evil: The Final Chapter

Resident Evil actress Ali Larter shares her thoughts on reprising Claire Redfield in more films. [Image by Constantin Films]

Almost as vital to the Resident Evil franchise as Mill Jovovich, Ali Larter’s Claire Redfield has become a hero in her own right. Speaking to Dread Central, the actress shares how her Resident Evil character has evolved throughout the series. First brought in on the franchise in the second film, Resident Evil: Extinction, Larter admits it has been a “pretty wild” ride for her character, who she has been molding through the past 10 years.

Ali says Clair Redfield became an important member of the Resident Evil team fairly quickly and her connection to Alice (Jovovich) is partly to credit for that.

“I’ve been working on that character for ten years, from where it began where you really see her kind of connect with Alice and you see them build this relationship of trust and admiration and in this post-apocalyptic world how do you survive? Then you see in different ways, you see them use their skills, use their relationship, it’s been really interesting.”

Ms. Larter says she’s grateful to have been a part of such a beloved franchise. Launching a world tour with Milla Jovovich and director Paul W.S. Anderson to promote Resident Evil: The Final Chapter gave Ali a greater insight into just how popular the franchise has become. She adds that she was happy to be a part of something that allows women to take on roles typically reserved for men and hopes that it has had a positive effect on female Resident Evil fans.

Ali Larter was also asked if she would ever return for more Resident Evil films, which has become a real possibility in light of the plans for a Resident Evil reboot.

“I mean, I’d love to read it and see what the vision is and the idea of doing it,” says the Resident Evil: The Final Chapter actress.

Further comments from Ms. Larter indicate that she has no plans to reprise her Claire Redfield character, as she feels she’s done everything she can in that role.

“For me it’s been incredible working with Paul or Milla,” said Ms. Larter. “I don’t know what the next step is but I do think this is the end of the franchise and being able to kind of end it together, and having done three movies together over a decade, is something that I’m very proud of.”

[Featured Image by Constantin Films]

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