Resident Evil star Milla Jovovich recently reflected on how she landed her iconic role as Alice in the first feature film adaptation of the fan-favorite survival horror video game franchise. A self-professed fan, the actor, whose career was on an upward trajectory at the time, originally wanted to produce the 2002 movie.
However, Jovovich was asked to read for the role of Alice by Resident Evil director Paul W.S. Anderson, who she went on to marry. “I played the video game a lot with my little brother, and I wanted to produce it. I wanted to make the movie,” Jovovich told GQ about a role that turned her into an action movie icon. “And then I found out that my – well, he wasn’t my husband then – but this guy had the rights to it.“
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“We reached out, and he asked me to read for it,” Jovovich recalled. “You know, at that point, I was like, ‘Hey, I’m the Fifth Element. Like, you really going to ask me to read for this?’ I came in very nonchalant and saw this really hot young director, and I was like, ‘Ooh.’ And that was the beginning of the rest of my life.” Jovovich went on to collaborate with Anderson in some capacity for the six Resident Evil franchise films she starred in.
The filmmaker wrote and directed the original Resident Evil and continued as writer and producer for Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004) and Resident Evil: Extinction (2007). Anderson returned to the director’s chair for Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010), Resident Evil: Retribution (2012), and 2016’s Resident Evil: The Final Chapter, which also starred their daughter, Ever Anderson.
A Resident Evil Reboot From Another Director Is In The Works
The latest Resident Evil franchise reboot will be directed by acclaimed horror filmmaker Zach Cregger (Barbarian), and is set to hit theaters on Sept. 18, 2026. Cregger co-wrote the screenplay with Shay Hatten (John Wick franchise). Constantin Film’s Robert Kulzer, Vertigo Entertainment’s Roy Lee (Barbarian), and Miri Yoon (Womlan of the Hour) will serve as producers on the project.
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Cregger is a huge fan of the Resident Evil video games and is excited to be involved with the Resident Evil reboot. “I’ve been a rabid fan of these games for decades and to be able to bring this amazing title to life is a true honor,” he said.
Constantin’s Kuzler added, “The world of Resident Evil experienced through Zach’s visionis an irresistible feat. Zach is one of the most talented, exciting new directors to come on the scene in many years. His brilliant approach in restarting and refreshing this legendary Sony franchise instantly makes this one of our most important releases in 2026.”
The 2002 Resident Evil movie is streaming on Prime Video.
Source: GQ
