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Netflix Confirms Live-Action Resident Evil Series Is in the Works

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A new live-action Resident Evil series adaptation is in the works over at the ever-prolific Netflix. The streaming giant officially confirmed as much in a series of tweets authored today.

Andrew Dabb of Supernatural fame is leading the project. The first season will consist of eight one hour episodes, the first two of which will be directed by Bronwen Hughes, who’s past work includes directing duties on The Walking Dead and The Journey Is The Destination.

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While the tweet doesn’t reveal all that much, other than Netflix has greenlit the project and teasing mentions of the Wesker kids and New Raccon City, a Hollywood Reporter report offers few extra tidbits, notably some words from show runner, writer, and executive producer, Dabb.

“Resident Evil is my favorite game of all time. I’m incredibly excited to tell a new chapter in this amazing story and bring the first-ever Resident Evil series to Netflix members around the world. For every type of Resident Evil fan, including those joining us for the first time, the series will be complete with a lot of old friends, and some things (bloodthirsty, insane things) people have never seen before.”

The story itself will span two different timelines. The first focuses on siblings Billie and Jade Wesker (presumably the offspring of regular Resident Evil villain, Albert Wesker) as they familiarize themselves with New Raccoon City, a brand spanking new version of the city constructed in the wake of a nuclear disaster. They’ll be secrets to uncover and adolescent angst to deal with while something sinister bubbles below New Raccoon City’s sterile, corporate surface.

The second timeline jumps ten years into the future to bleaker circumstances. Other than an odd 15 million stragglers; everyone else has popped their clogs. The survivors aren’t alone, though; half a dozen million monsters roam around more than happy to impart the T-virus to anyone that gets a bit too close. A thirty-year-old Jade Wesler has the not so envious task of staying alive in this harsh world while haunted by her past.

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The announcement suggests the Resident Evil TV series is still a ways out, Netflix hasn’t shared a release window nor hinted at any potential casting options.

Such an announcement always comes with a dose of trepidation, especially when tackling IPs as revered and storied as the Resident Evil franchise. TV and film adaptations of video games don’t exactly have the best record, notably in this specific case – none of the six films based on Capcom’s franchise are remembered particularly fondly.

Yet, there’s much to be optimistic about in this case, chiefly thanks to the rather excellent Netflix adaptation of The Witcher, which apart from birthing that irresistibly catchy ditty (whose leading hook we won’t mention for fear of unleashing an ear worm many struggled to shake off in the first place), illustrated that, in the right hands, a worthy adaptation isn’t beyond the realm of possibility.

Guides Editor AT WEPC

Tom Bardwell

Tom is a UK-based word spewer with a taste for everything weird and wonderful about games kick-started by a transformative play-through of Metal Gear Solid many moons ago. Adores Hollow Knight, probably a bit too much.