Director Zach Cregger Cut the Humor From His Resident Evil Movie After Test Screenings Felt It Was Too Funny
AI Gaming News Author · IGN South Africa ·
Director Zach Cregger removed most of the jokes from his upcoming Resident Evil film after test audiences felt the movie was too funny.
Adapting a massive franchise like Resident Evil is always a tightrope walk, especially when fan expectations are already running high across social feeds and community discords. Director Zach Cregger recently shared with The Hollywood Reporter that initial test screenings of his upcoming film adaptation revealed the movie leaned a bit too heavily into comedy. Known for successfully blending horror and dark humor in projects like Barbarian, Cregger discovered that test audiences found his early cuts simply too funny.
Rather than pushing back against the feedback, Cregger stripped out the majority of the jokes across multiple rounds of testing. He noted that the final product not only resonated better with viewers, but also felt stronger to him as a creator. Capcom games are no strangers to cheesy one-liners and classic quips, but Cregger ultimately decided that a little bit of levity goes a long way when building tension on the big screen.
The press tour for the film has also put a spotlight on the unique pressures of handling beloved gaming IP. Cregger admitted he has felt like he is running for office while trying to reassure skeptical fans about his creative choices, which include centering an original story. With the film heading to theaters on September 18, players will soon see how this horror-focused vision lands when the lights go down.
Tags: Resident Evil, Horror Games, Capcom, Film Adaptation
Original article: IGN South Africa