Director Zach Cregger's upcoming Resident Evil reboot pulls creatures from Resident Evil 6, the franchise's most poorly received mainline entry. Production designer Tom Hammock confirmed the film will feature monsters from the 2012 game during a recent set visit.
This choice raises eyebrows. Resident Evil 6 alienated players with its bloated campaign, tone-deaf action focus, and convoluted narrative that abandoned the survival horror roots fans craved. The game represents the series at its lowest critical point before Capcom course-corrected with Resident Evil 7's first-person perspective and atmospheric dread.
The filmmakers aren't ignoring the franchise's stronger entries, however. Hammock noted they also drew inspiration from Resident Evil 4, widely considered the best game in the series and one that revolutionized third-person action games. RE4's influence could actually elevate the creature designs.
Cregger's reboot faces pressure to prove Hollywood can finally crack the Resident Evil formula after multiple failed attempts. Borrowing from both the franchise's worst and best entries suggests a mixed creative approach. If the filmmakers cherry-picked only the creature designs from RE6 while adopting RE4's pacing and atmosphere, this could work. If they lean into RE6's chaotic DNA, the reboot could replicate that game's mistakes on the big screen.