Resident Evil on screen: how the new film connects to the games and earlier adaptations

Anyone planning to see the new *Resident Evil* does not need to rewatch the earlier films or master the entire game chronology. Directed by Zach Cregger, the film follows Bryan, a character created for this story, in a self-contained plot. It uses Raccoon City, infectious outbreaks and the franchise’s survival atmosphere, but it does not literally retell one of the games.

The short answer, then, is that the new film is another screen interpretation of *Resident Evil*. It is neither a sequel to the Milla Jovovich series nor to the reboot *Welcome to Raccoon City*. Knowing the games may help viewers notice references, but it is not presented as a requirement for understanding the premise.

What the new Resident Evil is

According to BBC Newsbeat, Bryan, played by Austin Abrams, is a courier tasked with delivering a package to a hospital in Raccoon City. On the way, he is caught in a viral outbreak in which infected people turn into creatures. That is enough background to enter the film without spoiling its surprises.

Cregger, also behind *Barbarian* and *Weapons*, told the BBC that he did not want simply to reproduce a game’s story. His aim was to translate the experience of playing into cinema: vulnerability, limited resources, danger and uncertainty. This distinction matters. Familiar elements may appear without the events, protagonists or continuity being the same.

The director also said he had no direct contact with Capcom while making the film. The report notes, however, that coordination took place between the developer and the producers behind the scenes. It is therefore unsafe to treat the film as an official part of the games’ chronology.

Three film lines that should not be mixed together

The simplest way to organise the live-action adaptations is to divide them into three groups.

The first line began in 2002 and reached six films overseen by writer-director Paul W. S. Anderson, all starring Milla Jovovich. Alice, the heroine of that series, faces the Umbrella Corporation, the T-virus and creatures taken from or inspired by the games. Sony Pictures’ page for the first film introduces Alice, Rain, Matt, the underground Hive facility and the Red Queen artificial intelligence, and links to later entries in the series.

The second line is 2021’s *Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City*. Sony Pictures describes it as a return to the franchise’s origins: Raccoon City has become a dying town after Umbrella’s departure, and a group of survivors tries to uncover the truth about the company. The film reboots the adaptation rather than continuing Alice’s journey.

The third line is Cregger’s film. Bryan is an original protagonist, and his journey is a new entry rather than the next chapter of either previous film series.

Where the games fit

The games have their own continuity. The first *Resident Evil* was released by Capcom in 1996 for the original PlayStation, as the BBC recounts. Instead of giving players a nearly invincible hero, it confronted them with limited resources and survival decisions. Sequels, remakes and reinventions followed.

Raccoon City, Umbrella and biological outbreaks recur across different versions, but sharing these components does not make two works chapters of the same narrative. They operate as a recurring vocabulary: each adaptation chooses its own characters, events and relationships.

For news specifically concerning the games, the safest reference point is Capcom’s official Resident Evil portal. Release and availability information can change, so check the official channel before making a decision.

What about Resident Evil Requiem?

*Resident Evil Requiem* belongs to the game line, not to Cregger’s film continuity. Images of Raccoon City and gameplay combat can illustrate the franchise’s visual language, but they should not be mistaken for scenes from the new film.

This separation also prevents a premature conclusion: the presence of a similar sign, creature or location does not prove a narrative connection. To compare only the game’s official presentation, visit the Resident Evil Requiem page on PlayStation, bearing in mind that release and commercial details are subject to change.

A quick spoiler-free chronology

In release order, the essential map is: the original 1996 game; the film series launched in 2002 and completed after six Alice films; the 2021 reboot *Welcome to Raccoon City*; the 2022 Netflix live-action series, cited by the BBC as another adaptation; and the new Cregger film built around Bryan.

Animated productions associated with the brand appear in Sony’s catalogue, but they are not needed to distinguish the three live-action film groups discussed here. The most practical clue is the protagonist: Alice identifies the first series; the group tied to 2021’s Raccoon City belongs to Johannes Roberts’s reboot; Bryan identifies the new film.

What to watch beforehand

Nothing is compulsory if the goal is simply to follow the new film. Viewers interested in how cinema has reshaped the franchise can choose one representative from each earlier phase: the first Alice film and *Welcome to Raccoon City*. Those seeking the origins of the tension built around exploration and scarcity should turn to the games, while remembering that their stories are not automatically transferred to the screen.

This approach makes room for similarities and differences without treating faithfulness as proof of quality. The new *Resident Evil* offers an autonomous story inside a recognisable repertoire—and that is the most useful key for entering the screening spoiler-free.