We think we felt the earth move, ladies and gentlemen. In a completely unprecedented display of fan service as yet unheard of for a major franchise, “Resident Evil: Afterlife” star Milla Jovovich reported that her husband, the prestigious art-house director Paul W.S. Anderson (“Alien Vs. Predator,” “Death Race”) will be turning to fans for ideas to include in the fifth film. NY Magazine reported Jovovich as saying, “we’ve been talking to a lot of fans on Twitter and stuff, so it’s probably going to be one of the first movies where we really talk to fans to see what they want, and what characters they want to see. It’s going to be a more interactive process.”
Shock and awe?! You mean it only took four successful films based on a popular video-game franchise, the latest opening at #1 with damn near $30 million? We know Jovovich means well but that statement does come off as a bit of snub to the fans of the series. The films have trafficked in sub-par quality with B-grade action set pieces but Jovovich’s action heroine routine has managed to hold it all together for the most part. This doesn’t change the fact that most fans of the video game series will tell you that the films have strayed away from the “Resident Evil” mythology and have eschewed most of the plot, picking at it now and then to remind fans why they’re watching this dreck. But then again, video game fans are not the primary audience for these movies — everyone is. Still, it stings to be reminded what a small role hardliner fans play in seeing their favorite work brought to the silver screen.
