Leon S Kennedy Actor Wants A ‘Resident Evil 4’ Movie
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Featured Image Credit: Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group
Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City is finally here, in the United Kingdom. While it may not be winning over many critics (according to Rotten Tomatoes), it’s certainly the finest video game film I’ve ever seen. So, naturally, I’m eager to see more movies in this reimagined Resident Evil world - and it seems I’m not alone in wanting this.
“I love Resident Evil 4 because I grew up with Resident Evil 4,” says actor Avan Jogia, who plays Leon S Kennedy in Welcome to Racoon City. Upon hearing this, I have only one question in my mind: would Avan want to play Leon in a Resident Evil 4 movie? “Without hesitation,” he says yes. And this enthusiasm is backed up by Albert Wesker actor Tom Hopper.
See our interview with the Resi stars here:
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“What we have in Raccoon City is kind of like a RE1 and 2 hybrid, right? So, what I think would be really interesting is to make a 4 and 5 hybrid, in some way,” Tom adds, “If they can do that within this grounded world, and then capture all those moments [from the games] somehow, that would be pretty special.”
It’s no secret that Resident Evil 4 is a beloved game, so adapting it into a movie will catch the attention of fans, in both good and bad ways. After all, movies based on games don’t often please audiences, even when they’re decent films in their own ways (see Dynasty Warriors, for example).
Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City has similarly divided fans with some of its adaptation choices, such as portrayals of characters, including Leon Kennedy. “You can’t just start Leon as the cop who knows exactly what to do. He can’t be the President’s daughter’s bodyguard - you have to get to that place,” Avan explains.
This interpretation clearly comes from a good place, though, as Avan makes clear. “I’m one of the fans. There’s no separation between me and the people who are going to watch this movie, because I’m them.”
When watching the film, it’s clear how much love for the game series has gone into it. Not only does the aesthetic match the world of the first two Resident Evil games, but there’s a plethora of references throughout the movie, from the keys seen in 2019’s Resident Evil 2, to a piano puzzle inspired by the original 1996 title.
I ask Avan and Tom about how Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City is a movie for the fans, and they both showed that they understood the assignment. “It’s the way it was pitched to us”, explains Tom, “And that’s why I think we all really wanted to do it.” Avan backs up his co-star: “That was the honest plan.”
It’s clear neither actor is done with Resident Evil yet. “They’re going to do a Marvel thing,” asserts Avan. “Yeah, exactly,” adds Tom, “We’ll do one way down the line.” I take this opportunity to suggest a Marvel Vs. Capcom movie, to which Tom replies, “Oh, there’s your movie!”
Whatever comes of Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City’s legacy, I’m happy to say that I’m a big fan of this film. I spoke about it at length in my review, but it’s worth reiterating how much this movie feels like Resi. It’s silly, heartwarming, and scary at times. It may not be what many other critics wanted, but it’s a wonderful movie to me.
Topics: Resident Evil, TV And Film