"Resident Evil" Live-Action Series in the Works at Netflix
andrew dabb will oversee a “resident evil” series at netflix
By: Keaton Marcus
As more and more video games are getting adapted into live-action works, add Resident Evil to the list, which is officially in the works at Netflix as a series from the showrunner of Supernatural.
Following months of development and a frantic search for a showrunner, Netflix has given the adaptation a go, recently ordering eight episodes for the first season. According to a tweeted photo, Andrew Dabb is now confirmed to oversee and write the series. Dabb is expected to give his full attention to the Resident Evil show after he wraps up the final season of The CW’s Supernatural, which just resumed production after being delayed.
“Resident Evil is my favorite game of all-time,” Dabb said. “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 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) that people have never seen before.”
Considering the original is his favorite of all-time, I feel that this is the correct choice. While video-game adaptations in the past have never been all-too good, there’s some hidden gems. The 2018 Tomb Raider was suitably gritty, grounded, and had a compelling star…and most recently, Netflix’s The Witcher series was solid fantasy fun with great production values. So far, at least, I trust that this adaptation will be successful despite the odds against it.
As mentioned, Dabb will be the showrunner and writer of the first season, and he will be joined by Constantin Film’s Robert Kulzer, Oliver Berben and Mary Leah Sutton. Brownen Hughes will serve as executive producer and director of the first two episodes.
Reportedly, the Netflix series will tell the story across two different timelines. In one, 14-year old sisters Jade and Billie Wesker are moved to New Raccoon City. The more time they spend there, they realize that the town is more than it seems, and that their father could be concealing dark secrets. Secrets that could destroy the world. The second heads more than 10 years in the future when there is only 15 million people left on Earth…And more than six billion monsters, people and animals infected by the T-virus. A 30-year old Jade struggles to survive in this new world, while the secrets from her past continue to haunt her.
One thing’s for sure: Netflix won’t have any issues with popularity. Since the launch of the game franchise in 1996, the series has sold over 100 million copies worldwide. After about 25 years since its first release, Sony has made a six-film franchise, which despite poor reception, has been successful in the box office, grossing a total of over 1.2 billion dollars worldwide.
Resident Evil is one of the many video-games that are getting adapted into shows. Halo is in the works at Showtime, Fallout at Amazon Prime Video, Netflix’s The Witcher now has two spin-offs and a second season in development, and The Last of Us is making progress at HBO. No release date has been provided.
