New RESIDENT EVIL Movie Runs Parallel To RESIDENT EVIL 2 Storyline, But Nemesis Is Off the Table
There’s a new Resident Evil movie on the way, and after the first trailer dropped, director Zach Cregger shared fresh details about the film’s timeline and monsters, and one major fan-favorite won’t be making an appearance.
Cregger’s take on Resident Evil isn’t a direct adaptation of any of the games, but it exists right alongside Resident Evil 2. The movie tells a separate story unfolding during the same chaotic night in Raccoon City.
Instead of revisiting familiar protagonists, the film introduces a new character named Bryan, played by Austin Abrams, a medical courier who finds himself in way over his head when a routine job spirals into a nightmare.
Cregger explained how this story fits into the established timeline, saying: “You know, where Raccoon City is having its big night, but [we're telling] just another story that could be happening in parallel to that.”
That setup opens the door to a lot of possibilities, especially considering how closely Resident Evil 3: Nemesis overlaps with the events of Resident Evil 2. Naturally, fans might wonder if Nemesis, one of the series’ most recognizable monsters, might show up.
Cregger shut that idea down, though, saying: “My favorite [creature in the movie] is kind of the big baddie that sort of evolves and changes and follows [Austin Abrams' Bryan] over the course of the movie.
“And I don't want to say too much about it, but it's not a Nemesis. So I know people are going to read this and be like, 'He's putting a Nemesis in there.' No, there's no Nemesis.”
Even though Nemesis exists in the same timeline and is active during the Raccoon City outbreak, this film is carving its own path. Instead of leaning on the trench coat-wearing bio-weapon created by the Umbrella Corporation, Cregger is introducing something new, a creature that evolves and stalks Bryan throughout the story.
This is all such a smart move. Nemesis has already had his time in the spotlight, and creating a fresh antagonist gives the movie room to surprise audiences. Plus, the idea of a constantly changing threat sounds like it could bring a different kind of tension compared to the relentless but predictable pursuit Nemesis is known for.
The film leans into the chaos of Raccoon City from a different angle, focusing on a character who isn’t trained for survival. Bryan isn’t a cop or a soldier, he’s just a guy trying to do his job when everything collapses around him. I like that perspective.
Resident Evil hits theaters on September 18, and it sounds like it’s aiming to expand the universe rather than retread it. No Nemesis, no familiar heroes, just a new story unfolding during one of the franchise’s most infamous nights. This is gonna be a great movie!
Source: GamesRadar+