The Resident Evil Movie Reboot has been given a name, and is officially going to be titled Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City!
As revealed by director Johannes Roberts during an interview with IGN during the SXSW online event, the new title is a callback to the familiar city that serves as the setting of the original Resident Evil games — particularly Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3. Check out the video interview below.
Adapting the first two games of the series, Roberts’ Resident Evil film will be a fresh start for the live-action movie franchise and will have no connection to the Milla Jovovich movies. Firmly set in the game’s timeline in the year 1998, the first Resident Evil took place in an isolated mansion located in the outskirts of Raccoon City, but the reboot will also cover the story and events of the second game when the city falls to the zombie outbreak.
Kaya Scodelario of The Maze Runner films has been cast as Claire Redfield, with Robbie Amell playing her brother and longtime series lead Chris Redfield. Hannah John-Kamen will also play fan-favorite character Jill Valentine, while Avan Jogia is the rookie RPD cop Leon S. Kennedy. The cool and calculating Albert Wesker will be played by Tom Hopper, while Dr. William Birkin will be brought to life by the talented Neal McDonough.
This week also marks the official celebration of Resident Evil’s 25th Anniversary, and RE fan and game writer Alex Aniel recently detailed the coverage Famitsu made of the year long celebration Capcom has planned for the series.
Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City will be released in theaters this coming September 3.
