Long-running zombie game franchise Resident Evil has already been the subject of several live-action Hollywood movies, plus a few animated instalments.
Now Netflix has announced that it will be adapting the story of mankind’s battle with the T-virus into a new animated series that will debut in 2021. Here’s what we know about the show.
When is the release date for Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness?
There’s no confirmed date when the show will arrive on Netflix, but the company did state when it announced the series that it would air in 2021. As the revelation was made on 27 September 2020, it seems likely that this still remains true, as the disruption caused by the Covid pandemic would have been factored into the timeline.
It’s worth noting that the latest entry in the game saga, Resident Evil: Village, is scheduled to launch on 7 May 2021. So, Netflix could be timing the release of Infinite Darkness to tie in with the hype surrounding the game.
But there’s also a new live action movie, Resident Evil: Welcome to Racoon City, which reboots the entire film franchise and has been confirmed to open in cinemas on 3 September 2021.
Enjoy your stay. Resident Evil: #WelcomeToRaccoonCity is only in theaters September 3. pic.twitter.com/6zN8Rpw0Ew
— Resident Evil (@ResidentEvil)
March 22, 2021
This gives Netflix two interesting options to help promote the new series – or it could place Infinite Darkness squarely between both so that the Resident Evil world stays in the news and people’s minds for most of the year.
There’s yet another another factor, in that Netflix has also commissioned a live-action Resident Evil series that could debut in 2021 as well. All we know so far is that it will feature the two children of RE big-bad Alfred Wesker, after they move to New Raccoon City and realise that their father could be up to no good.
The show then runs a parallel timeline ten years later following the pair as they deal with the zombie apocalypse that the Umbrella corporation has unleashed. There’s no release date known at the moment, so this could end up continuing the Resident Evil universe in 2022 rather than competing with its stablemates this year.
Whatever happens, it’s a great time to be a fan of the franchise.
What is the plot of Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness?
In a recent press release, Netflix outlined the story we can expect to see when the series arrives later this year.
‘In 2006, there were traces of improper access to secret Presidential files found in the White House’s network. American federal agent Leon S. Kennedy is among the group invited to the White House to investigate this incident, but when the lights suddenly go out, Leon and the SWAT team are forced to take down a horde of mysterious zombies. Meanwhile, TerraSave staff member Claire Redfield encounters a mysterious image drawn by a youth in a country she visited, while providing support to refugees. Haunted by this drawing, which appears to be of a victim of viral infection, Claire starts her own investigation.
‘The next morning, Claire visits the White House to request the construction of a welfare facility. There, she has a chance reunion with Leon and uses the opportunity to show him the boy’s drawing. Leon seems to realize some sort of connection between the zombie outbreak at the White House and the strange drawing, but he tells Claire that there is no relation and leaves. In time, these two zombie outbreaks in distant countries lead to events that shake the nation to its very core.’
There’s also the original teaser trailer that gives you a glimpse of what Claire and Leon will encounter.
Who are the cast and crew for Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness?
Netflix recently confirmed on its Twitter account that the two main characters of Claire Redfield and Leon Kennedy will be voiced, respectively, by Stephanie Panisello and Nick Apostolides. This means they will be reprising the roles they performed so well in the recent remake of the Resident Evil 2 game.
Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness is bringing back the RE2 remake’s Nick Apostolides as Leon Kennedy and Stephanie Panisello as Claire Redfield. pic.twitter.com/qjIa13hfZc
— NX (@NXOnNetflix)
March 12, 2021
The show will be written and produced by Hiroyuki Kobayashi who has also helmed many of the Resident Evil movies and games, going right back to the beginning of the franchise.
Where can I watch Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness?
As this is a Netflix show, you’ll need to be signed up to the streaming platform to watch it. This seems worth doing, as not only will you have Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness but also the new live-action Resident Evil series when that arrives.
