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New Resident Evil trailer sparks debate over franchise timeline placement
Developed over time first seen 4 months ago
A new trailer for an upcoming Resident Evil film has prompted fans to debate where it fits within the franchise’s complicated chronology. The uncertainty matters because Resident Evil spans games, animated films and several separate live-action continuities, making its relationship to established characters and events a major point of interest for audiences.
Viewers have focused on apparent references to familiar locations, creatures and story elements, but the footage does not clearly confirm whether the film is a sequel, prequel or standalone reboot. The discussion reflects long-running uncertainty around the series’ screen adaptations, which have often used the Resident Evil name and imagery while following different timelines.
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In short
- Fans are unsure where the new film sits in Resident Evil’s timeline.
- Trailer references have fuelled theories about its continuity.
- The franchise includes several separate screen adaptations.
How this story developed
- 4 months ago A newly released Resident Evil film trailer has sparked confusion among fans trying to work out where the story sits within the franchise's established timeline.
Explained simply
Resident Evil films have long taken inspiration from the video game series, which began in the 1990s and centres on outbreaks of a virus that turns people into zombie-like creatures, often in and around the fictional Raccoon City. The games and earlier films have set instalments at different points in that outbreak's history, so fans keep close track of exactly when each new release is meant to take place.
The new film is directed by Zach Cregger and stars Austin Abrams as a hospital worker caught up in a zombie outbreak at a Raccoon City hospital. Cregger has said the story runs alongside the events of the 1998 game Resident Evil 2, but the trailer shows characters using modern smartphones, prompting fans to question whether the film is really set in that era or in the present day.
This matters to Resident Evil followers because the series' internal chronology affects how new instalments connect to established characters and events. The apparent mismatch between what the director has said and what the trailer shows has become the main point of discussion ahead of the film's release.
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Originally published by GamesRadar+ as “Horrifying new Resident Evil movie trailer leaves fans confused over the timeline”.