"I'm really hoping that fans of the game take something nice away from it, that it's the game plus more. Plus more of a depth to these characters."
Tom Hopper has teased that fans of the 'Resident Evil' video game franchise should feel more inclined to be scared sh*tless regarding the upcoming movie. Not because it'll be bad, but because it'll be much truer to the franchise than we've seen on screen thus far.
Chatting to Collider as he promotes his new action film 'SAS: Red Notice', which is available on Sky Cinema and NOW, the actor gave lots of details about his upcoming zombie adaptation. It's quite apparent that, compared to the Milla Jovovich six-movie franchise, this title will be heavily influenced by the original video games. Just in case "Racoon City" in the title of the movie wasn't enough to cement the influence.
According to the actor, who is known the role of Luther in Netflix's 'Umbrella Academy', the previously-named 'Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City' will be "immersive" and "dirtier" than we're expecting. The movie is now simply known as 'Resident Evil'.
In the horror movie, Hopper will play STARS member Albert Wesker. He'll be joined by 'Upload' actor Robbie Amell as Chris Redfield and his on-screen sister Claire, who will be played by 'Skins' and 'Spinning Out' actor Kaya Scodelario. Hannah John-Kamen from 'Ant-Man and the Wasp' and 'The Stranger' will play the iconic character of Jill Valentine.
Spencer Mansion will be a focal point during the movie, meaning that this title will be taking us all the way back to the beginning of the video game franchise. Hopefully, we're going to see plenty of gruesome happenings going on in there.
Hopper said of the upcoming movie: "I think fans of the game will be happy, but at the same time, I think they should recognize that we want to make these characters as real and as grounded as possible... I feel like the Wesker in the game obviously has that [Agent] Smith from The Matrix type idea.
"But I think from an aesthetic point of view, I think the games really influence this well. It is an aesthetic that, certainly when we were shooting it, that I was like, 'Man, it feels like the game.'
"I'm really hoping that fans of the game take something nice away from it, that it's the game plus more. Plus more of a depth to these characters."
If the movie can make us feel as scared as we are while playing these games, they are onto a winner.
'Resident Evil' is currently slate for a US release on September 3, 2021, and will be distributed by Sony Pictures. The movie is written and directed by Johannes Roberts.
Here's the full Tom Hopper 'Resident Evil' interview.
