(Image: Sony Pictures)
Zach Cregger, director of the upcoming film "Weapons," dropped the second trailer for his new "Resident Evil" movie, "Resident Evil: Outbreak Night," last night. Cregger also appeared at the ongoing San Diego Comic-Con for a promotional event, where he was pressed on questions fans have had since the first trailer's release—namely, why is there snow, and why are there smartphones?
The confusion arises because official statements have emphasized that "Outbreak Night" is set during the same timeframe as the video game "Resident Evil 2" and borrows heavily from its story concepts. The original "Resident Evil 2" game takes place in late September 1998, a setting where snow and smartphones would not be present.
Cregger addressed the fan questions directly, explaining: "'Resident Evil 2' came out in the '90s, but the movie is set in a snowy 2026, which is why there are iPhones. I want to tell the story I want to tell and create the visuals I want to create. I'm not doing a one-to-one remake of 'Resident Evil 2.' This movie is different from the game, and I don't think that makes it worse. Snow in a horror movie is fucking cool. I love it."
This explanation suggests the film's timeline diverges from what was previously communicated. It appears the movie and the game may exist in different universes, and Cregger's comments have arguably only deepened the mystery surrounding the film's canon.