Resident Evil: Welcome to Rockford Island

Resident Evil: Welcome to Rockford Island is a 2024 action horror film directed and written by Johannes Roberts and a story by Alexandre Aja, Michael Rasmussen and Shawn Rasmussen. Adapted from the story of Resident Evil Code: Veronica by Capcom, it serves as a sequel of the Resident Evil Cinematic Universe and the eighth installment in the Resident Evil films series overall, It is the sequel to Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City which was loosely based on the video game series of the same name.

The film stars Kaya Scodelario, Robbie Amell, Tom Hopper, Avan Jogia, Froy Gutierrez, Lily Gao, Hannah John-Kamen and David Harbour. Set In December 1998, three months after escaping from Raccoon City, Claire Redfield raids an Umbrella Corporation facility in Tall Oaks, Discovered by Umbrella's security forces and eventually captured, Claire is imprisoned on Rockfort Island, a prison complex owned by the corporation.

Development took place in early 2023, after Sony and Constantine films was greenlight the sequel of reboot film, after the modest successful in Box office and big successful on-demand, Roberts was hired as director with Alexandre Aja, Michael Rasmussen and Shawn Rasmussen serving as a story writer. Filming began on June 6 to August 5, 2023 at the Greater Sudbary, Toronto, Hamilton, and Dorchester Penitentiary.

Resident Evil: Welcome to Rockford Island was theatrically released on June 14, 2024, in the United States by Sony Pictures Releasing. The film received overwhelming positive reviews from critics, with some deeming it an improvement over the original, praising the action sequences, direction, visual effects, performances, screenplay, cast and more emotional, with its faithfulness to the game being praised, though pacing and excessive theme received controversy. It became a box-office success, grossing over $224 million worldwide against a $40 million budget.

Plot
In October 1, 1998, Raccoon City was destroyed. The survivors, Claire Redfield, Chris Redfield, Leon S. Kennedy, Jill Valentine and Sherry Birkin was saved by priority, ordered to cover story by the US government. Leon tries to reveal the truth about Umbrella to his father. But he was forced to adjust his look and undergo training to become a government official agent. While Sherry was in US protection. Chris and Jill find the clues to expose Umbrella for what they did to Raccoon City, with Claire and Barry Burton who is Chris and Jill's friend. Barry felt something strange. since before the city was ordered to shut down, he decided to take the family to escape from the city in the days before the city was destroyed, they did everything that they could to try and expose Umbrella, but always wound up at a dead end.

December 1998, Barry got the clues, Umbrella was planning a new product in Talk Oak. the new Umbrella's home, Stubbornly Claire decides to travel to the city without listening to the objections of Chris and Jill. Claire uses her abilities to invade the city's large headquarters. Discovered by Umbrella's security forces and eventually captured, Claire is imprisoned on Rockfort Island, a prison complex owned by the corporation, situated in the Southern Ocean, she discovered that Rodrigo Juan Raval, an Umbrella Security Service employee who captured her. he was injured. Because the island was attacked by an unknown faction and released Claire from jail. Claire discovers that T-virus has taken over the island, turning prisoners and guards into zombies.

Claire was searching the way to get out but was attacked by zombie dogs, a mysterious man came to her aid. he introduced himself as Steve Burnside. His father worked for Umbrella. But betrayed them by selling data in auction, so he and Steve was arrested with his mother was killed before arrived this island. Together they fight against the zombies until they reach a giant castle. Claire recalls the sight of the Ashford twins. Alfred Ashford appeared and fired rifle at both. Both Claire and Steve escaped in castle and hide in the bedroom, they find him to be mentally unstable as a result of him switching between two personalities—his own, and that of his twin sister Alexia, when he was dressed like sister in the room.

The pair escaped with secret passage until they arrived at the training facility where they found that Umbrella trained Umbrella's. Steve finds his father's corpse turned into a zombie and gets shot in the head with a farewell letter. He's devastated. Claire tries to console him. But he couldn't take it, he asked for his's time to walk out. she meets Albert Wesker, who behind the island's chaos. both fight but Claire was overpowered by him, Steve come to save her with his golden luger guns he steal from the castle, Albert Wesker escaped. they traveled until they found the control room. Claire sent Leon an e-mail asking him to inform Chris of her location so that he would know that what's happening and tell it to the priority. they found the secret file about Dr. Alexander Ashford, 6th Earl Ashford, as his children were secretly adopted, and become psycho after was experimented by Dr. William Birkin.

Alfred used his father as a test subject for Alexia's t-Veronica virus that was received by Queen Ant, Alexander had mutated into a psychotic monster. Deeming him a failed experiment, Alfred and Alexia, disgusted that he was a failure even as an experiment, chained him in a secret room in the Castle's dungeon, where he remained in solitary confinement, In December 1983, Alexia assigned Alfred to protect her and carry out her will to do "Project CODE: Veronica" while she was inactive, and proceeded to enter the cryostatic state. until 1998. Alexandre became the monster known as "Nosferatu" and was killed by annoyance Alfred, Claire was disgusting and trying to tell Leon about what she knows, they were being attacked by Alexia. Steve was imitated by Alexia (Alfred dresses like her). they gave virus injection in Steve while Claire was faints and locked up in the castle dungeon with him.

Meanwhile, Chris Redfield arrives on Rockfort Island in search of Claire with Leon S. Kennedy who becomes STRATCOM recruitment, after receiving a message from Leon S. Kennedy. together they reached the island. they decide to split up, Chris meets with Rodrigo, who is dying by his wound, tells Claire where she is, beg him to tell his family that he couldn't get back to them, and becomes a zombie, attacking Chris. Rodrigo was shot dead by Wesker, Chris is surprised that Wesker. who became an independent agent since the Underground Lab incident (the events of Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City), who is seeking to retrieve a sample of the T-Veronica virus with Ada Wong, his coworker, who was injected him with virus to resurrected him back for work, Wesker attacks Chris completely unexpectedly. they fight but Wesker is overpower than Chris, Chris shoot at the fire barrel, burned Wesker's face before he's fleeing in The Castle. Chris meets Alfred, Chris fired his gun. Alfred was severely wounded and disappeared.

Leon meets Ada, Leon immediately knows she is the enemy. they points a gun to each other, Suddenly, a special type of tyrant "Bandersnatch" awakened by the ordered of on the island attacked them both. Ada was beaten to the point of exhaustion. Leon fights and leads Ada to escape. Ada is grateful for Leon. She kissed Leon, tell her name and gave him a bottle of virus. before pushing him out of the warehouse before blowing up the Bandersnatch with herself. Leon regrets that he couldn't save her but decides to move on the mission. Chris arrives in a dungeon full of zombies. he fights and met Claire who was imprisoned. While Mutation Steve was slowly try to tell them both to escape. Claire runs away with Chris, while Mutation Steve's chasing them, but he should to stand in her way with harmless. Claire and Chris was helping to free Steve from suffering by shoot him. Claire was devastated. Alfred staggered back to the lab, he uses a code "VERONICA" to open the vial. Released Alexia before dying in front of her, she cradled his body in her arm before she slowly walked out with fire with hatred and begin her plan of dominion over the world as its queen.

Leon arrives at the front of the castle. Claire and Chris come out with Alexia was chasing them. Leon fires his weapon in retaliation and they flees into a helicopter parked on the edge of the island. But Alexia sets the helicopter on fire. Wesker emerges against her with superhuman strength, he want to test how powerful he is, but was severely burned after his duel with Alexia. He snatched the virus from Leon before escaping in a helicopter. Wesker activated self-destruct order to destroy the whole island and leave the Island. Leon saw that the figure on the helicopter was Ada, who had not died as he had understood with Mutation Steve's body on there, Claire's disgusted for what Wesker did and trying to shoot him down but useless, A relentless Alexia prepares to unleash a fire on Leon, Claire, Chris, the trio uses all they have till ammo's out, they're holding their hand prepare for the death together. but Alexia was shot by a rocket launcher that Jill was carrying with her. with Barry piloting a helicopter.

After learning from Barry. Jill asked Barry to bring her to the island. The island was completely destroyed by bombs. There is no evidence left to trace as it reached Umbrella. They all asked questions on the helicopters what to do next. Leon said, "It's up to us to take out Umbrella" before the helicopter flew out of the skies into a new sun of hope. Meanwhile, An old man sitting in a wheelchair beside the virus vial that Wesker and Ada stole beside them, Oswald E. Spencer wasn't die like people in Raccoon City understand, he spoke in a hoarse voice. "Obedience Breeds Discipline, Discipline Breeds Unity, Unity Breeds Power, Power is Life." and grin hideously.

Cast

 * Kaya Scodelario as Claire Redfield, Chris's younger sister who is investigating the Umbrella Corporation
 * Robbie Amell as Chris Redfield, Claire's older brother and a former member of the STARS Alpha Team
 * Froy Gutierrez as Steve Burnside, a prisoner sent to Rockfort Island along with his father, who teams up with Claire to get out from the Island
 * Tom Hopper as Albert Wesker, an Independent agent, Chris's archenemy.
 * Avan Jogia as Leon S. Kennedy, a US-STRATCOM Agent, Claire's best friend.
 * Lily Gao as Ada Wong, an enigmatic unnamed spy of Asian-American descent, who is working with wesker.
 * Hannah John-Kamen as Jill Valentine, a former member of the STARS Alpha Team and Chris's partner.
 * David Harbour as Barry Burton, a former member of the STARS, Chris and Jill's friend and Claire's old friend.
 * Lewis Pullman as Alfred Ashford, a British nobleman and governor of Rockfort Island.
 * Bailee Madison as Alexia Ashford, a member of British nobility, the result of a cloning experiment referred to as Project CODE: Veronica.
 * Laz Alonso as Rodrigo Juan Raval, an Umbrella Security Service employee. assigned to the defense of Umbrella's Talk Oak Laboratory.

Development
In November 2021, Director Johannes Roberts stated that if a sequel were to be developed, he would like to adapt the story from Resident Evil – Code: Veronica and then Resident Evil 4. He said:"'I could very much see [Resident Evil – Code: Veronica] becoming part of the next installment. There's a lot of interesting lore and tiny details that we have brought into this movie, but would be amazing to expand on. There are characters that we didn't use in this game that we would love to expand upon in the next movie."Roberts also expressed interest in adapting Resident Evil 7: Biohazard and Resident Evil Village in the future. He said:"'There's also a different side of Resident Evil with Village and Resident Evil 7, where it's a much darker, more horrific world.'"Robbie Amell stated he hopes to return as Chris in a sequel which includes his boulder-punching scene from Resident Evil 5. By June 2022, Tom Hopper confirmed Sony and Constantin Films are pleased with the film which saw its success expand on demand, he certainly hopes to play Albert Wesker again in the future. He said:"'What I know is it was very successful in terms of on demand, a lot of people sat at home and watched it, so I think they're very happy over Constantin and Sony, all the guys who run that show. I certainly hope to go back and play Albert Wesker again, it ended in a way that I was like, 'Oh, I can get used to this guy.' Also, too, where he's going, I think he can be very interesting, so I certainly hope so.'"On November 2022, Roberts will confirmed the reboot sequel was in announced to be development as a officially green-lit, the inspired by the video game such as Resident Evil Code: Veronica and Resident Evil 7. Roberts will returned to write and direct the sequel and Alexandre Aja, Michael Rasmussen and Shawn Rasmussen will be write the story which it give 3 people a story credit.

On Early February 2023, Chris Evans will be expressed interest for the role of Ethan Winters, however, Roberts was rejected the idea of Evans casting due to the actor fanbases over generally controversy, Roberts want Harris Dickinson, who was casted by Sony and Constantine to be Leon S. Kennedy in the first film, but he was rejected, to be Ethan Winters, said "Dickinson have more Ethan personality than anything people said and I thought he is the perfect choice to do ordinary man who's fucked in RE universe", he wait to build the cinematic universe that faithfulness to the game, focus on the one story, after he was criticized about story and his script in the first film, he need to proved his worth for audiences and RE fans, if he want to do Resident Evil Cinematic Universe.

In Late February 2023, Sam Raimi and Ian Bryce serving as a producers though Raimi Productions. Roberts described the reboot film was a generally story after the events of the first film, inspired by the video game such as Resident Evil Code: Veronica.

Casting
In March 2023, Kaya Scodelario, Robbie Amell, Hannah John-Kamen, Tom Hopper, Avan Jogia, and Lily Gao will returns as Claire Redfield, Chris Redfield, Jill Valentine, Albert Wesker, Leon S. Kennedy, and Ada Wong from the previous films. In Late March 2023, Froy Gutierrez was in talks for the role of villain, but it was confirmed to be named as Steve Burnside as an antagonist and a prisoner. Andy Garcia was in initially role of Barry Burton, however, due to the creative differences, he was replaced by David Harbour as a role of Barry Burton in April 2023.

In May 2023, Lewis Pullman, Bailee Madison, and Laz Alonso joined the cast for the film as Alfred Ashford, Alexia Ashford and Rodrigo Juan Raval, respectively, marked the second time that Pullman and Madison worked with Robert after "The Strangers: Prey at Night" with siblings role, through Madison was worked in the movie that Robert was written recently "The Pool".

Filming
Filming began in June 6, 2023 and was wrapped on August 5. Filming took place again at the Greater Sudbury, Ontario, Canada with Maxime Alexandre and Dev Singh will return as cinematography and editor under the working title Veronica. It took place at the Toronto and Hamilton with Amell and Gao began to reshoots. Gutierrez also began reshoots at the Dorchester Penitentiary, Dorchester, Canada with Gao began a reshoots. It finished the filming reshoots in September 2023.

Music
Mark Korven was returned as a film score, while Fergaledgar return as a pianist with John Mietus, Ben Powell, Roberto Cani, Daphne Chen, and Jessica Guideri will join the music department as a violin, Mietus was previous scored Inanimate Insanity: The Movie and was serving as a score composer and violin. The soundtrack will be released by Sony Classics.

Future
In November 2024, after the box office successful, Director Johannes Roberts stated that, he would like to adapt the story from Resident Evil 4. but he need to step back that plan because the story need to end in trilogy more than rush to do what game he want to do, he want a stable franchise and will not let people down, so he decides to adapt the story from Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicle to be the last story of trilogy.

The third film could be the last origins story, because he want to rest after doing Resident Evil films for 4 years, but he want to come back as director after the third films, Roberts said the third is being treated as "the end of a franchise" that began with Welcome to Raccoon City with any additional solo films featuring the Resident Evil Cinematic Universe characters to be different from the first trilogy of films and feature a tonal change, but everything could changed with successful outcome.

Kaya Scodelario stated she want to do spin off film of Claire Redfield, set after Welcome to Rockford Island, she thought it's gonna be great to see what's she going to after that, make her character more badass and interesting, before she will be like Resident Evil: Degeneration, she certainly hopes to play Claire Redfield again in the future, no matter sequel or spin-off, she loves to do that.

Robbie Amell and Hannah John-Kamen stated they want to see the relationship of Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine becomes like game, they are partner, not a lover, even Chris' still down for her, but it could have the flashback before the first films the good reason why it wasn't worked for them, if people want to see platonic relationship, people might get more in the future film, if it was green-lit.

Tom Hopper happily stated that Albert Wesker is his favorite character and ready to do it more, he's teasing that Chris and Wesker is like Best friend in Bad Time, they fight each other, but Wesker want to play with Chris more than kill him, that's why their relationship is so interesting.

Avan Jogia express to come back as Leon S. Kennedy in the future stated "he will be more badass than ever", while Lily Gao, who played Ada Wong thought it's good to see Leon and Ada's relationship's being more complex, they're not couple, but they cares each other so much, that's why Resident Evil 4 is the good fits to expand their relationship like game.

David Harbour thought Barry Burton will be more badass in the third films after his small role in the second film is just "teasing" for something bigger.

Sequel
In CinemaCon 2025, the sequel "Resident Evil: Welcome to Umbrella Legacy" was announced by Sony and Constantine film as the last film of the origins trilogy series. Robbie Amell, Hannah John-Kamen, Tom Hopper, David Harbour will returns as Chris Redfield, Jill Valentine, Albert Wesker and Barry Burton from the previous films.

Spin-Off
Kaya Scodelario and Avan Jogia was announced to playing Claire Redfield and Leon S Kennedy in the first spin off series "Resident Evil: Claire and Leon" in Netflix, the new original story mixed with Resident Evil: Operation Javier, directed and written by Alexandre Aja, masks the second time that Scodelario work with him after "Crawl" and it will be more intense story how Claire need to fight in her own way, before she becomes Terrasave member, with the 2000s, while Leon need to be stronger after losing someone in his eyes (Ada Wong betrayed him), still guilty and slowly becomes PTSD, with Jack Krauser as his partner. Holly De Barros returns at Sherry Birkin from the first film with new characters, the series will be the prequel to Welcome to Umbrella Legacy with easter eggs from game series.