I Watched The George A. Romero Resident Evil Documentary. Now I’m Left With Even More Big Questions

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In my younger days, I recall learning that George A. Romero, the visionary behind many iconic zombie films and a significant horror genre influencer, was initially set to direct a Resident Evil adaptation. This was before the Resident Evil franchise churned out some of the most disappointing video game adaptations in cinema history. However, similar to other unrealized projects from Romero’s later career, this movie never materialized, leaving fans to ponder the question “What if?

I’ve just finished viewing a fascinating documentary titled “George A. Romero’s Resident Evil“, which offers an insightful look into the life and career of the renowned filmmaker, revealing how he nearly brought the survival horror game from consoles to cinemas worldwide. Watching it has left me with numerous intriguing questions about George A. Romero, “Resident Evil“, and the evolution of zombie films over the past 25 years in particular.

First And Foremost, How Would The World Have Received Romero’s Version Of Resident Evil?

Despite George A. Romero’s version of “Resident Evil” never being made, a new documentary offers insights into Romero’s vision for the project, which was reportedly going to be a bloodier, gorier, and scarier rendition of the franchise than what transpired in Paul W.S. Anderson’s 2002 adaptation and subsequent sequels.

It’s intriguing to ponder how the world would have reacted to Romero’s new zombie film, given that his ardent followers and those particularly drawn to the horror genre would undoubtedly have rushed to cinemas for a glimpse of his latest creation after such a long hiatus. However, it’s worth questioning whether the wider audience would have been as enthusiastic, considering Romero’s penchant for graphic violence and social critique that might have deterred some viewers. I hold great admiration for Romero’s work, with _Dawn of the Dead_ ranking among my top three movies, but his style could potentially alienate a broader audience.

Would It Have Spawned A Massive Film Franchise?

As I watched the trailer for George A. Romero’s Resident Evil, it became evident that Constantin Film, who has held the film rights to the series for almost three decades, expressed dissatisfaction with the level of violence and tone that Romero envisioned. This revelation leaves me speculating that if the initial movie had even been made, the prospect of creating a franchise from it would have been challenging at best.

In a similar vein to Romero’s most terrifying zombie films, it is likely that Resident Evil would have featured intense violence and graphic content, leading to an NC-17 rating or no rating at all, thereby limiting its box office earnings. Given that poor performers typically don’t receive sequels, it seems unlikely for a franchise to emerge from this initial release.

However, the series could have been revamped or rebooted as seen with Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil restarting the franchise. Yet, whether it would reach the same level of success as Paul W.S. Anderson’s six-film series is questionable.

What About Paul W.S. Anderson’s Career?

Before directing the first “Resident Evil” movie in 2002, Paul W.S. Anderson had already established a successful career for himself. He achieved considerable success with films like “Mortal Kombat” (1995) and “Event Horizon” (1997), and showcased an impressive Kurt Russell performance in “Soldier” (1998). However, since the turn of the 21st century, a significant portion of Anderson’s work has been connected to or centered around Raccoon City.

After gaining insight into Romero’s plan for the adaptation that seemed imminent, I find myself pondering about Anderson’s potential fate if he hadn’t been part of it. Throughout his tenure with the franchise from 2002 to 2016, Anderson also contributed to films like “Alien vs. Predator” and “Death Race.” It makes me wonder whether he would have secured those projects due to his work on “RE,” or if he could have explored alternative opportunities in Hollywood instead.

If Resident Evil Had Worked Out, Romero’s ‘Dead’ Franchise Would Have Probably Stopped At Day Of The Dead, Right?

Following the failure of his wicked schemes, Romero moved on to write and direct “Bruiser” – a 2000 horror film about a magazine creative director who regains consciousness to find he has no face, leading him on a violent rampage. It is plausible that this lesser-known thriller would not have been created by him during that period, and I share the same assumption about his last three zombie films: “Land of the Dead,” “Diary of the Dead,” and “Survival of the Dead.

If Romero’s hypothetical remake (which, as previously stated, seems improbable) were to become a franchise, it’s challenging to envision him returning to his original “Dead” series, starting from where “Day of the Dead” left off. This potential scenario might have resulted in missing out on the highly acclaimed “Land of the Dead,” along with its development of zombies, but it could also mean avoiding his last two less-appreciated zombie films. In my opinion, that trade-off seems acceptable.

How Would Zombie Movies And TV Shows In General Look Now?

After experiencing that documentary, I find myself pondering: What if zombie films and television series had been created today? Though the Resident Evil movies may not be the diehard fans’ preferred embodiment of the genre, they undeniably attracted a larger audience to the undead, thereby laying the groundwork for a new era of zombie films that eventually gave rise to The Walking Dead dominating our world.

Romero was not fond of the extended AMC series primarily due to its absence of his incisive social critique, and it’s intriguing to ponder if his unsuccessful venture into adapting a video game may have paved the way for what is widely considered the most successful non-superhero comic book adaptation on television.

In essence, George A. Romero’s version of “Resident Evil” served as an affectionate tribute to the pioneer who launched the zombie genre, encompassing everything he infused into a project that unfortunately didn’t succeed as planned. It seems we are once again confronted with a situation where potential was not fully realized.

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2025-08-17 23:10