The first trailer for Zach Cregger's Resident Evil is here, and it feels a lot more like my favorite games than the previous attempts to adapt this franchise. The acclaimed Weapons and Barbarian director is back with his take on the iconic zombie games, and I love that the first look puts the "survival horror" element front and center.

The trailer centers heavily on Austin Abrams' Bryan, as he seems to be the only human we see in this footage. What's better is he seems to be a civilian, and not prepared to handle a zombie invasion like other Resident Evil heroes, Chris Redfield, Jill Valentine, or Leon Kennedy. To me, that's perfect, because it gets to the heart of what makes the games so terrifying to play.

One big element of Resident Evil games is that "survival horror" means that this isn't a situation where the hero is just running and gunning their way through every area. Ammo is scarce, and there's going to be a fair few situations where you may be forced to run away with no better options. I have a feeling Bryan will be doing that a lot, especially with a double-barreled shotgun that, even if he has a lot of ammo, will be cumbersome to reload in tense situations.

It feels like Bryan is going to be the same type of protagonist as Grace, who is featured in the latest game, Resident Evil Requiem. She's become a meme of sorts because players loved how genuinely terrified she is witnessing the horrific mutations that came from the Umbrella corporation. It's a nice change of pace from Leon Kennedy, who's seen it all as an experienced agent and is largely unfazed by face-splitting abominations.

Totally valid, but as someone who has to take breaks playing Resident Evil games because they give me so much anxiety, I appreciate this representation. I ultimately love the best horror movies out there, but I can also make myself miserable trying to watch them.

While we don't know a ton about the plot, Zach Cregger told Bloody Disgusting that he wasn't looking to tell the story of any character who is already in the games, but that it does take place in the universe. Having a hero who seems equally as horrified as I am is going to make this movie easier to get through, even if I have to shut my eyes for a scene or two.

All this to say, consider me hyped for the release of Resident Evil, which will be in theaters on September 18th. It's one of my more anticipated releases on the 2026 movie schedule, so I hope it's as good as this first trailer.

There was a time in the ‘80s when a character like Ellen Ripley (played by Sigourney Weaver) was the female action hero, and by “the” I mean the only truly prominent one.

Because, while yes, we had shows like Charlie's Angels, and Lynda Carter as Wonder Woman, Ripley was a new kind of hero. One who could confront the Alien Queen all by herself, and call it a bitch right to its face (it's one of the reasons why the first two Alien movies are some of the best sci-fi movies of all time). And, while we've come a long way since then with more women also directing action movies, we're not nearly far enough.

So, there's one actress who I want to talk about today who has truly solidified herself as one the queens of female action heroes, and that woman is Milla Jovovich. Here's why she’s such a legend.

Now, Firstly, She Doesn't JUST Do Action Movies

Now, I know I prefaced this by talking about Jovovich as an action hero, but she doesn’t JUST do action movies. In fact, she started out as a model, and made her film debut in 1988’s erotic romantic drama, Two Moon Junction.

She went on to star in The Blue Lagoon sequel, Return to the Blue Lagoon in 1991, and then went on to arguably more interesting projects like Chaplin, and Dazed and Confused.

Of course The Fifth Element was her big break, but I’ll get to that later. A more interesting film might be the movie Luc Besson made after The Fifth Element, that being 1999’s The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc. Jovovich played the patron saint of France, and while the movie was mostly panned, and it underperformed financially, I think it deserves reevaluation because it’s pretty good. However, that’s not why you’re here.

Come On Now, This Is Alice From Resident Evil

How many actresses can say they starred in six financially-successful action movies? I can honestly only think of one, and that’s Milla Jovovich (though, Kate Beckinsale in the Underworld movies comes close). Playing Alice in six of the seven Resident Evil movies, Jovovich played a character who wasn’t in any of the games, but still made her mark in the franchise.

It might be because she performed many of her own stunts, and also because she looks highly capable of kicking zombie butt.

But, it also just might be because she truly is awesome at being in action movies. While I wouldn’t consider any of the Resident Evil films to be one of the best video game movies of all time, I would say they’re all really fun, and mostly because of Jovovich’s charisma and credibility, which she carries into other action movies as well, which I’ll get into next.

Her Other Action Films Are Also Legit

I brought up The Fifth Element earlier, and that was definitely the first time I saw Jovovich in action. What a first impression she made on me! Bruce Willis was the star, but Jovovich was the main attraction. With her red hair, interesting language, and action moments, she blew me away as The Supreme Being, Leeloo.

But, she’s done so many other awesome action movies as well! Ultraviolet, The Three Musketeers, Survivor, Monster Hunter (which was surprisingly fun), In the Lost Lands - which was panned, but I liked it - and she’s still going! She was in the action-thriller Protector in 2025, and is said to be playing a villain in the upcoming film, Midnight.

So, when it comes to female action heroes (and villains, apparently), you can’t get much better than Milla Jovovich. As I said in the title, she’s a legend.

Many of the biggest action stars of all time, in the best action movies, got their start in the 1980s and 1990s when action movies really started to dominate Hollywood. Stars like Tom Cruise, Angelina Jolie, and Keanu Reeves all started making their mark in those seminal decades in film. This gallery is a tribute to all the action stars who are still making movies today, but began their careers decades ago.

Keanu Reeves

While he broke out in comedies like Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure and Parenthood, it wasn't long before Keanu Reeves was starring in big action flicks like Point Blank and Speed. Reeves isn't just an action star, but with the lead in two now-iconic franchises, The Matrix and John Wick, he definitely belongs near the top of any list like this.

Angelina Jolie

Angelina Jolie's career started early. She was just 6 years old when she appeared in her first movie in 1982 alongside her dad, Jon Voight. By the late '90s, she was on her way to becoming one of the biggest stars in the world. She got into action movies with films like Gone In 60 Seconds and her biggest franchise, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, and while she has always kept one foot in more indie-type movies (including as a director), she's been a steady action star for decades.

Nicolas Cage

It's hard to come up with a Hollywood star with a more diverse acting career than Nicolas Cage. His rage is actually pretty amazing, and that certainly includes starring in some great action movies, like the iconic Con Air and the National Treasure movies.

Scarlett Johansson

Like a lot of actors on this list, Scarlett Johansson can't be pigeon-holed as simply an action star. She is, however, one of the major players in the MCU as Black Widow, and has starred in other action flicks like Jurassic World Rebirth and Lucy.

Wesley Snipes

Most of the biggest box office successes of Wesley Snipes' early career were comedies like Major League, Wildcats, and White Men Can't Jump. In the early '90s he transistioned into action movies with leading roles in the likes of New Jack City, Passenger 57, and Rising Son. He also starred in Demolition Man with Sylvester Stallone, and, of course, as Blade in three movies.

Halle Berry

You might not think of Halle Berry as an action star... until you remember how many superhero movies she's starred in. Not only was she an important part of the X-Men franchise, but she was also Batwoman in 2004 and has also starred in John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, Kingsman: The Golden Circle, and others.

Arnold Schwarzenegger

This one is a little tricky. Technically, action movie legend Arnold Schwarzenegger had his first role way back in 1970 with Hercules in New York, but that was really a one-off B-movie that was soon forgotten. After he spent the 1970s winning every bodybuilding trophy on Earth, he entered Hollywood properly in 1982 when he starred in Conan the Barbarian. Everything since is action history.

Robert Downey, Jr.

Robert Downey, Jr. doesn't jump off the page as an action star. The Oscar winner has proven he can star in any genre, but as the anchor of the MCU movies for more than a decade, he definitely belongs on this list.

Tom Cruise

There's nothing to be said about Tom Cruise that hasn't already been written, right? One of the biggest stars in Hollywood history, Cruise has starred in action movies like Top Gun and its sequel, a couple of Jack Reacher movies, the Mission: Impossible franchise, and great one-offs like Edge of Tomorrow, War of the Worlds, and Minority Report, to name just a few. Plus, he famously does a ton of his own stunts, which shows just how much he belongs on any list of big action stars.

Milla Jovovich

Milla Jovovich started as a model, but transitioned to movies with films like Return to the Blue Lagoon and Dazed and Confused. Soo,n though, she started popping up in legendary action movies like The Fifth Element and, most notably, as Alice in six Resident Evil movies.

Jean-Claude Van Damme

In the '80s, a whole slew of action-first stars emerged, and one of the most popular was Jean-Claude Van Damme. Van Damme first gained fame in No Retreat, No Surrender, and followed that with hits like Bloodsport and Cyborg.

Linda Hamilton

Director James Cameron can be divisive, but you can't argue that he knows how to create female action star leads with great parts and great casting. Linda Hamilton is a legend from her appearances in the Terminator movies over the years.

Kurt Russell

Okay, we have to acknowledge that Kurt Russell's career started when he was a child star with Disney way back in the 1960s. In the '80s, he fully dove into action flicks in a big way with movies like Escape from New York, The Thing, and Big Trouble in Little China, all directed by one of the decade's best directors, John Carpenter. He's since been in a slew of action movies.

Mel Gibson

With the Mad Max franchise and the Lethal Weapon movies, Mel Gibson would be on this list even if those were his only movies. Of course, he has so much more, like Braveheart, Ransom, and many of the other best action movies of the '90s.

Thandiwe Newton

Thandiwe Newton debuted in 1991's comedy Flirting, and in the '90s and beyond, she's starred in action movies like Mission: Impossible 2, The Chronicles of Riddick, Solo: A Star Wars Story, and 2012. She's also starred in TV shows like Westworld that fit in this genre, too.

Dolph Lundgren

One of the pillars of cheesy (and awesome) '80s action is the great Dolph Lundgren. From fantasy heroes like He-Man in 1987's Masters of the Universe to communist boxers like Ivan Drago in Rocky IV, he's been a staple for decades in lots of action movies, including part of the O.G. cast in The Expendables franchise.

Lucy Liu

Lucy Liu kicked off her career in the early '90s, and before too long, she started doing some awesome action movies. Probably the most notable are the Charlie's Angels movies and the Kill Bill movies, but she's also got some less-well-known ones like The Man with the Iron Fists, directed by RZA, and even superhero movies, like Shazam! Fury of the Gods.

Jason Statham

Like other actors on this list, Jason Statham didn't start in true action flicks. His first roles were in the Guy Ritchie films Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch, but within a couple of years, he became a full-blown action hero in The Transporter and The Italian Job. Now it seems like he's in all the biggest action franchises, like The Expendables and the Fast & Furious movies.

Charlize Theron

Charlize Theron is one of the most versatile actresses in Hollywood. She won an Oscar for her portrayal of serial killer Aileen Wuornos in the terrifying true story Monster. She's also been in acclaimed dramas like The Road, Cider House Rules, and Bombshell. Of course, she's starred in a whole slew of great action movies like Mad Max: Fury Road, Atomic Blonde, Æon Flux, and a few of the Fast & Furious movies.

Jet Li

Jet Li started out in movies in Hong Kong in the early 1980s, where he quickly established himself as one of the great martial arts stars in Chinese-language films. After a decade and a half in Hong Kong, he moved to Hollywood in the late '90s, starring first as the villain in Lethal Weapon 4 in 1998. He became such a big action star that he was included in the first three Expendables movies.

Kevin Costner

Kevin Costner might not seem like the typical action star, but he definitely is. Movies like Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, The Postman, and the incredibly underrated Waterworld prove that when he wants to be, he can be a great action hero.

Michelle Yeoh

Like some other actors on this list, Michelle Yeoh starred in martial arts movies in Hong Kong in the '90s. Her breakout film in the West was as Wai Lin in the James Bond movie Tomorrow Never Dies, where she showed the whole world her stage fighting and stunt skills. Since then, she's been in hits like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, and, of course, Everything Everywhere All at Once, for which she won the Oscar for Best Actress.

Bruce Willis

There's no way this list would be complete without the great Bruce Willis! Die Hard will always be one of the best action movies of all time and in many ways helps define what a action movie in the 1980s looked and felt like. Only Willis could have pulled off the the wit and charm of John McClane. He's been in a ton of action movies since, of course. He is now retired, due to his health, but he worked right up until he no longer could.

Cameron Diaz

Cameron Diaz took a long hiatus from acting, finally returning in the 2025 Netflix release, appropriately called Back in Action. While she may be best known for her roles in romcoms like There's Something About Mary and The Mask and dramas like Gangs of New York and Vanilla Sky, she's had her fair share of action hits too, like Charlie's Angels and Knight and Day.

Steven Seagal

It's easy to forget just how huge an action star Steven Seagal was in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He actually sort of dominated the box office with movies like Hard To Kill, Above The Law, Mark For Death, and Out For Justice. He reached the artistic pinnacle of his career with 1992's Under Siege. It's not just a great movie for teenage boys like his first four movies; it's legitimately a great movie, with great performances from Seagal, Tommy Lee Jones, and Gary Busey. Sure, he's not making movies on that level anymore, but he's still been churning out straight-to-video-type releases for decades.

Peter Weller

Peter Weller's breakout came in The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension in 1984, but he really hit the big time with 1987's classic RoboCop. Sure, it was insanely violent, but RoboCop had a unique political message, too. Weller's been going strong ever since.

Robert Patrick

The iconic T-1000 in Terminator 2 became one of the great action villains of the 1990s. Robert Patrick played the role of the callous, cold robot killer perfectly. It established him as a legit action star, and he's been busy ever since.

Mickey Rourke

Mickey Rourke isn't only an action star. In fact, most of his roles have been in serious dramas, starting with movies like The Pope of Greenwich Village and 9½ Weeks in the 1980s, but he's definitely proven his action bona fides with roles in Iron Man 2, Sin City, and The Expendables.

Matt Damon

Anyone who has starred as Jason Bourne in four films deserves to be on this list. Sure, Matt Damon might not be the first actor you think of as an action hero, but come on! You can't deny that he belongs on this list for those films alone. Throw in movies like The Martian and Elysium, and he definitely should be here.

Dwayne Johnson

We're making a slight exception here. Technically, Dwayne Johnson's first movie credit came in 2001 in The Mummy Returns, but he had been quite famous for years for his work in the WWE throughout the 1990s. So while he didn't get his start in movies until later, he was a well-established star years before that. Of course, in the two and a half decades since his first movie role, he's become one of the biggest action heroes of all time.

Zoe Bell

This is another interesting case. Zoe Bell's first acting role in a movie was in Quentin Tarantino's Death Proof in 2007. However, she had already built a legendary career as a stunt woman going back to the 1990s. With the Academy Awards (finally) adding a trophy for best stunts, we're going to include Bell here, because she's been performing in movies for decades.

Will Smith

He started as a rapper, then got into acting with comedy, and in the '90s, Will Smith became a big action star with movies like Independence Day, Bad Boys, and Men in Black. He's proven to be a very versatile actor over the years, starring in every genre of film you can think of.

Despite my intense dislike of Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City, I’ll admit I miss having a new film to look forward to in this franchise. Unfortunately, the 2025 movie schedule won’t see Zack Cregger’s new reboot taking the stage, which means there’s time to make sure this new spin gets things right.

That also gives whomever the leads may be a bit of a window to try and nail the stunts like Milla Jovovich did back in the day. And as you’re about to see in the actor’s own account of a favorite feat of physicality, that’s going to be a pretty huge legacy to live up to.

Milla Jovovich’s Favorite Resident Evil Stunt Drove Her Down The Wall

You can feel that truth present during Jovovich’s appearance on GQ’s Iconic Characters series. Recalling her time as Alice, the ass kicker from director Paul W.S. Anderson’s Resident Evil movies, Milla Jovovich shared this fond memory of action prowess from 2004’s Resident Evil: Apocalypse:

In case you haven’t seen this moment for yourself, don’t worry. Thanks to the clip provided below, you can see Ms. Jovovich run down that 60-foot wall in style:

If you thought Milla Jovovich’s dedication couldn’t get any more intense, brace yourself. As it turns out, this Resident Evil: Apocalypse stunt was almost much more daunting; as Milla Jovovich wanted to pull a Tom Cruise on this massive undertaking. But just like the man behind the most ridiculous Mission: Impossible stunts, her reason for doing so is adjacent to the power of “Cinema!”

Milla Jovovich’s Reason For Doing Her Own Stunts Is Quite Heartwarming

So what’s scarier than running down 60 feet of glass and concrete, straight towards the ground? Try sprinting down all 250 feet of Toronto’s city hall! Unfortunately for her, Milla Jovovich couldn’t get the powers that be to sign off. I can’t blame her for trying, especially when she explained her mindset through the following sentiment:

Look, if Tom Cruise doesn’t make a movie with Milla Jovovich at this point, I’d say it’s an act of cinematic treason. And I’m not kidding about The Fifth Element icon wanting to go the full Ethan in Resident Evil: Apocalypse. In fact, I have the proof sitting right below this paragraph, courtesy of an archival special feature that runs down this incredible visual:

Though some of my colleagues think that Resident Evil’s animated films are better than the Milla Jovovich entries, I still have a huge soft spot for those six live-action thrill rides. Yes, that even goes for my least favorite entry, Resident Evil: Afterlife. While I’m definitely keeping an open mind, despite the reasons for my epic Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City rant still haunting me, this next round already has a rough road ahead.

Zack Cregger’s Resident Evil is set to debut on September 18, 2026. Meanwhile, fans of the Jovovich school of ass kicking can see her battling alongside Dave Bautista through In the Lost Lands - which is currently available for rental or purchase on Digital HD!

What do actors and models have in common? Well, for the most part, having “the look” will get you in the door in either profession rather quickly. However, for the purposes of the list you’re about to peruse, it just so happens that these Hollywood stars managed to work both sides of that scenario. And as expected, these models-turned-actors have done so with style. 

Mark Wahlberg

Before starring in movies ranging from Boogie Nights to The Family Plan, Mark Wahlberg was known as a rapper and a Calvin Klein model. Showing off his buff body in underwear ads helped give the aspiring star his start in the entertainment industry, with Mark shifting into acting just as his boy-band brother Donnie eventually did. 

Rebecca Romijn

In a career that saw her on Vogue magazine covers and in Victoria’s Secret campaigns, Rebecca Romijn put the “super” in “supermodel.” And then, in a move that only further strengthened that statement, she took her first acting gig as Mystique in X-Men, kickstarting a career that’s led to such fantastic parts as that of Number One on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. 

Tyrese Gibson

Ads for Coca-Cola, Guess, and Tommy Hilfiger had Tyrese Gibson primed for stardom, and gigs on TV shows like Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper and Martin soon followed. But depending on who you ask, it was either Baby Boy or 2 Fast 2 Furious that caused Gibson’s star to rise to the heights it’s at today. 

Halle Berry

It’s no surprise that Halle Berry did some modeling in her entertainment career, as her beauty has always been well renowned. But rather than going for traditional ad campaign work, the future star of X-Men and James Bond movies was a contestant in both the Miss USA and Miss World pageants. 

Jamie Dornan

Prepare for a rollercoaster ride, folks. Jamie Dornan, actor known for everything from Fifty Shades of Grey to A Haunting in Venice, was not only a model…he was part of a reality show that helped get him the gig. Channel 4’s Model Behaviour led to some gigs with Abercrombie & Fitch and Tommy Hilfiger, which eventually made way for Dornan to be discovered by Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette. 

Cara Delevingne

We’ve seen Cara Delevingne do everything from John Green adaptations like Paper Towns to DCEU juggernauts such as Suicide Squad. And with a foundation of modeling for Vogue Italia, Tory Burch, and Donna Karan under her belt, the American Horror Story: Delicate star never really gave up her day job, as her modeling continued along with her acting efforts.

Channing Tatum

There was probably a time when people staring at random Armani ads featuring Channing Tatum thought, “I wonder if he can act?” With a resume that has titles like Magic Mike, 21 Jump Street, and Foxcatcher  to boast about, it’s probably safe to say that the answer is a confident “Yes!”

Jaime King

As a young model, Jaime King saw herself making a splash with Vogue, Seventeen, and pretty much any other fashion publication of note you could think of. 2001’s Happy Campers was all it took to help her jump into the acting world, which saw her play some impressive parts in Sin City’s screen adaptation, Fox’s The O.C., and even the voice of Solus Prime in the series Transformers: Power of the Primes.

Shemar Moore

S.W.A.T. star and all around heartthrob Shemar Moore actually had his own moment in the spotlight of modeling. Through catalog jobs with Macy’s and magazine shoots for GQ, among other opportunities, this man of action continues to engage in some modeling here and there; which only brings his fans that much more joy. 

Devon Aoki

Movie fans might recognize Devon Aoki from her standout roles in both Sin City and 2 Fast 2 Furious, but believe it or not her modeling career is the stronger of the two streams she’s dipped her toes into. Brands and magazines alike have showcased her talents in the industry, with Balenciaga and Harper’s Bazaar calling themselves a part of her storied body of work.

James Marsden

Jury Duty and Sonic the Hedgehog star James Marsden feels like the type of guy that’d be a model, right? How couldn’t he, with a smile like that? Well, if the world didn’t know it before his 2011 interview on Ellen, Ms. DeGeneres helped bring that aspect of his career to light; along with the pictures to prove it.

Gal Gadot

Jaguar, Maxim, and Gucci are only some of the brands and publications that Fast Saga star Gal Gadot has modeled for. This Heart of Stone lead eventually saw herself courted by Hollywood in the early-Aughts, thanks to auditions for Quantum of Solace that saw Gal compete with Olga Kurylenko for the role of Bond woman Camille. 

Antonio Sabàto Jr.

Calvin Klein was the name of the brand that gave actor Antonio Sabàto Jr. his start in the public eye, as underwear modeling was his first claim to fame. Eventually, projects like General Hospital, Earth 2, and even a Janet Jackson music video would see Antonio becoming an acting talent that continued to capitalize on their dreamy good looks. 

Charlize Theron

Even after winning her first Academy Award for Monster, and landing big ticket franchise like the Fast Saga, Charlize Theron still managed to fit in some modeling for Dior into her busy schedule. Which is absolutely fitting, considering that Theron got a jump start on her entertainment resume as a teen model throughout Europe in the ‘90s.

Mehcad Brooks

Fans of Law & Order and Supergirl’s Mehcad Brooks may want to brace themselves for what we’re about to tell them. Before Mr. Brooks was a part of worlds where superheroes and top cops reign supreme, he made a killing as a Calvin Klein underwear model; much like Mark Wahlberg, Antonio Sabàto Jr, and Djimon Hounsou.

Milla Jovovich

Before becoming an ace action star/zombie destroyer in the Resident Evil movies, Milla Jovovich found herself in another profession: muse. As an inspiration to designer Miuccia Prada, in addition to the star of shoots with acclaimed photographers such as Herb Ritts, Jovovich built a prolific career as a model; long before she would eventually be deemed a “Supreme Being” once again in 1995’s The Fifth Element.

Tyson Beckford

Before movies such as Biker Boyz and appearances on The Celebrity Dating Game and Match Game saw Tyson Beckford become an actor and personality, he saw himself engaged in another profession cut from similar cloth. Namely, Beckford was a model for magazines like The Source, as well as designer Ralph Lauren’s Polo brand.

Brooklyn Decker

The career of Brooklyn Decker started off with a huge splash, as both Sports Illustrated and Victoria’s Secret employed the future actor as a star model. Eventually, playing a lead in the Adam Sandler film Just Go with It put Decker on the map; which led to a pretty sweet long term gig as one of the stars of Netflix’s Grace and Frankie. 

Ian Somerhalder

Lost star and vampire extraordinaire Ian Somerhalder practiced looking ridiculously good looking in the modeling world, before parlaying it into roles that headed up projects like The CW’s The Vampire Diaries. Among the various brands that saw Somerhalder posing for greatness high end names like Nautica and Versace. 

Iman

In the modeling world, brands and magazines like Vogue, Calvin Klein, and Halston all called upon the mythic talents of the great Iman. Yves Saint-Laurent’s “dream woman” would eventually find the acting profession calling, and would heed its siren song through opportunities like the Kevin Costner thriller No Way Out, as well as a memorable spot in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.

Tom Welling

Even handsome men from Smallville manage to find themselves gracing campaigns for the usual glizy subjects. Former Clark Kent Tom Welling knows that first hand, as working with Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein would put him on the map to become a Superman for another generation. 

Tyra Banks

Long before Tyra Banks was trying to help find America’s Next Top Model, she was practically living her life under that very title. Through Sports Illustrated swimsuit issues, Victoria’s Secret campaigns, and cover shoots for Elle and Vogue, Banks’ reputation as an in demand beauty eventually saw her jumping into acting gigs like a recurring role on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. 

Kellan Lutz

Vampires seem to make for good fashion models. Or should we reverse that statement? In either case, Kellan Lutz would be covered big time. Known as one of the Cullen family in The Twilight Saga, Lutz had also done some modeling before becoming one of the sparkling undead.

Kate Upton

Roles in The Three Stooges, The Disaster Artist and Robot Chicken have seen model Kate Upton active in the sphere of acting entertainment. However, her big start came from popularity stemming from cover shoots for Vanity fair, as well as modeling for the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition. 

Djimon Hounsou

Actor Djimon Hounsou has been known to battle it out heroically throughout various universes and time periods, making huge appearances in Gladiator, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Rebel Moon. But in addition to racking up such heavy hitting acts on his resume, the Academy Award nominee has also done some modeling for Calvin Klein underwear in the midst of his busy run.

Famke Janssen

Both the world of the X-Men movies, as well the James Bond legacy have called upon Famke Janssen’s skills as a performer. That run of good fortune actually came after she retired from modeling, which saw her lending her talents to campaigns for Yves Saint Laurent and Victoria’s Secret throughout the ‘80s.

Kofi Siriboe

Girls Trip and Queen Sugar star Kofi Siriboe is known as both an actor and an all around smokeshow in entertainment. And part of the reason the young actor has come so far so fast is thanks to childhood experience in the world of modeling campaigns!

Elle Macpherson

Everything from brands like Tab to magazines such as Elle and ads for Christian Dior have seen model Elle Macpherson gracing their campaigns for glory. And that was a perfect launching pad for Elle’s acting ambitions, which saw her hosting Saturday Night Live as well as appearing in movies such as Batman & Robin and The Edge throughout the ‘90s.

Robert Pattinson

While the world mostly knows Robert Pattinson for his acting gigs in the Harry Potter, Twilight, and The Batman franchises, you may be surprised to know that he actually did some modeling in his youth. Though he left that world behind a while back, that hasn’t stopped Pattinson from picking up some campaigns for brands like Dior Men from the Batcave.

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley

Levi’s, Abercrombie & Fitch, and Teen Vogue were crucial starts to the career of model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, and those pillars suited her well when continuing to be a world class icon. However, Rosie dipped her toes in the world of acting, through roles in both Transformers: Dark of the Moon and Mad Max: Fury Road.

Ashton Kutcher

How’s this for a start to a promising career? The late ‘90s saw Ashton Kutcher landing key gigs in both modeling and acting, with the former getting him started through Calvin Klein campaigns. It’s not hard to see how acting won out, as That ‘70s Show was the acting job that happened to land in his lap around the same time.

Elizabeth Hurley

The world has come to know and love Elizabeth Hurley in her capacity as an actor, throughout a career that’s seen her star in the Austin Powers franchise, as well as the remake of Bedazzled. But before she was selling Brendan Fraser’s soul, or fighting for peace with Mike Myers, Hurley was a model for the Estée Lauder brand. 

There you have it, lovers of modeling and acting talent! Keep these people in mind the next time you see a hot new star in either realm burning bright, for they could be the next exciting example of playing both sides, and looking exceptionally good in the process.

After spending 15 years starring in the Resident Evil films, Milla Jovovich will not be appearing in this year’s newest installment. For many fans, it may be hard to imagine the popular horror movie franchise without the actress -- regardless of how cool the cast of Resident Evil: Welcome To Raccoon City may be. If you’re feeling down about the prospective future of the series without her, all is not lost, though. Milla Jovovich recently shared her thoughts about returning to Resident Evil in the future, and it doesn’t sound like she’s completely opposed to the idea.

Milla Jovovich ostensibly became the face of the Resident Evil franchise when it launched in 2002. Though Paul W. S. Anderson’s films are based on the video game series of the same name, Jovovich’s character, Alice, was created specifically for the live-action adaptation. She played the character in the first six films, making her final appearance to date in 2016’s Resident Evil: The Final Chapter. While her character survived to the film’s closing credits, Jovovich wasn’t announced as part of the cast for Johannes’ Roberts’ upcoming reboot.

That’s okay, though, because it sounds like Milla Jovovich may not be done fighting the Umbrella Corporation after all. When our sister publication SFX Magazine asked the actress if she’d consider reprising the role in the Resident Evil franchise, she shared her thoughts:

What Milla Jovovich is referring to is the the upcoming Netflix project and, while it doesn’t sound like she’s on board yet, her enthusiasm definitely provides a bit of hope for future Alice appearances. That’s definitely good news, and it could help drum up enthusiasm for the Netflix adaptation, which is being helmed by Supernatural showrunner Andrew Dabb. It could also provide an opportunity for the new series to further blend the cinematic world of Resident Evil with that of its source material.

We don’t have too many details about the upcoming series, so it’s not clear if, or how, Alice might fit into the picture. We do know that the Resident Evil Netflix adaptation will feature two separate timelines, one of which follows teenage twins Jade and Billie Wesker through a pre-zombie apocalypse journey in Raccoon City. The second timeline will take place 16 years into the future and focus on a now-adult Jade. Whether or not Milla Jovovich’s Alice would fit into that second timeline remains to be seen, but the important part is that it’s not out of the realm of possibility.

And even though the chances of it happening may seem slim right now, maybe Alice could one day find her way back to the big screen. Milla Jovovich's character became a pop culture icon, and the fan-favorite heroine is technically still alive in a cinematic continuity. While we love seeing the actress fighting monsters in all their various incarnations, seeing her back in the Resident Evil timeline would undoubtedly be a dream (nightmare?) come true.

Milla Jovovich has been kicking butt and taking names since 1997’s The Fifth Element. The actor has been action film royalty with the Resident Evil franchise as well as The Three Musketeers and Ultraviolet. Now, it seems her film choices have rubbed off on her 13-year-old daughter, Ever, as she's making her action film debut. Recently, Jovovich couldn't help but geek out about her oldest daughter snagging a role in an upcoming Marvel film.

Milla Jovovich has been one of a few people who successfully made the transition from modeling to acting. Over the years, she has starred in plenty of action and sci-fi fare such as Survivor and The Fourth Kind. Now, her daughter will play a young Natasha Romanoff in the much-delayed Black Widow. Jovovich spoke enthusiastically about her daughter’s first major film role:

Having been in the film industry for over four decades, the actor also admitted to Entertainment Tonight that she was conflicted about her daughter taking part in Black Widow. While she did feel plenty of excitement, she also experienced a bit of apprehension:

Jovovich’s candor displays the conflict many parents likely feel after their children decide to follow in their footsteps, especially in entertainment. With children’s issues gaining increased attention, the actor had every right to be both excited and cautious, especially when you consider the film industry’s track record with child stars.

As a child herself, Jovovich was 9 years old when she began her modeling career, appearing on magazine covers and in fashion campaigns for Versace, Giorgio Armani and Christian Dior. By the late 1980s and early 1990s, she had appeared in films such as Kuffs, Chaplin and Dazed and Confused. After taking a brief hiatus, the actor re-emerged in the 1997 sci-fi film The Fifth Element, which became her breakthrough role. She followed up the film with roles in He Got Game, The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc and Zoolander. But it was the Resident Evil franchise (based on the video game series) that ultimately brought her global fame, as she portrayed anti-Umbrella activist Alice, a role she would play in five films.

Most recently, the actor can be seen in the action film Monster Hunter (also based on a beloved video game), which is currently playing in theaters.

It’s amazing what you can create in the world of computer generated visual effects. Virtual backlots, CGI stunt doubles and even de-aged actors are all part of the tools that a director like Paul W.S. Anderson can use in making a film like Monster Hunter. But when making this particular adaptation of a Capcom video game franchise, Anderson wanted to do things as practically as possible. Which meant that for several sequences with actor Milla Jovovich and her on-screen military unit, those scenes where Humvees are being flipped are done with real vehicles and the actual actors.

Attending the Monster Hunter press day on behalf of CinemaBlend, I was able to speak with Ms. Jovovich about her experience playing the intrepid character of Captain Natalie Artemis. Researching her prep to play the character, as well as the efforts that her husband/director had gone through to keep the project in the realm of practical effects work, a couple of pretty rough-looking sequences with Milla Jovovich’s Captain Artemis came to mind. And as you’ll read below, some of those bruises might not have been makeup effects, as Jovovich actually was being tumbled around in a Humvee:

Admittedly, the Monster Hunter tumble-drying of its cast does look like fun when watching it in the safety of wherever you decide to enjoy this weekend’s potential blockbuster. Were you not to know any better, you’d just think that Milla Jovovich, a veteran of looking like she’s been sent to Hell and back in the Resident Evil series, was really good at faking her moments as a rolling stone. But what you’re actually seeing is gravity being played around with, and to a rather impressive effect.

Another way of looking at this impressive Monster Hunter sequence is through the eyes of Special Effects Supervisor Jonathan Barras. As was noted in the film’s press notes, there’s a pretty clear explanation of the rig that these Humvees needed to look as if as describing the rig, and the process it operated on, as follows:

On top of the physical and psychological training that Milla Jovovich underwent to play an Army Ranger in Monster Hunter, her usual can-do attitude of getting into combat with all sorts of creatures did the actor a lot of good in her potential new franchise gig. While we’ll have to wait and see if this new world of adventure will be returned to in future sequels, there’s definitely a setup waiting at the end of Captain Natalie Artemis’ first adventure. Should that potential be realized, who knows what sorts of crazy contraptions will need to be invented to wow the audience with action so real, you’d need to go to a carnival to get close to the reality.

What is a present reality is the fact that Monster Hunter goes on the hunt in theaters this weekend. So if you feel safe enough to get out to the movies, this is one of the big screen debuts you’ll have to choose from. However, if you’re looking for what else is headed to theaters in the weeks to come, both the 2020 and the 2021 release schedules are available to help you stalk some big game excitement for yourself.

Video game movies tend to get a bad rap, as this particular genre of film perpetually frustrates fans of properties like Monster Hunter. Whether it’s diversions from the source material, or a misunderstanding of tone and execution in the cinematic medium, game adaptations are sometimes unfairly maligned in general. There are some movies that are the exception to the popular "rule," though, and writer/director Paul W.S. Anderson’s Monster Hunter is the latest to be counted as safe from being lumped in as a stereotypical video game flick. Devotee and non-fan alike should be able to enjoy this surprisingly exciting adventure that’s dedicated to help end 2020 on a high, monster slaying note.

Monster Hunter starts with an investigation into a missing team of military operatives, led by Captain Natalie Artemis (Milla Jovovich). What begins as a routine expedition to find a disappearing military unit turns into a fight for survival, however, as Captain Artemis and her team are transported to a parallel world by complete accident. In this new realm, larger than life monsters roam the earth, and Natalie will have to depend on a hunter native to this dimension (Tony Jaa) if there’s any chance of surviving long enough to make the journey home.

Audiences might find themselves surprised by how fun Monster Hunter actually is.

No stranger to the video game movie process, writer/director Paul W.S. Anderson adapted Monster Hunter with almost a decade of experience as a fan of the property himself. His excitement for the game shows in the story he tells with this particular narrative, as it’s a fast and adrenaline charged affair from the very start. Clocking in at a little over an hour and a half, the movie doesn’t waste any time dropping the audience into a new world based off of a landmark Capcom property, and his comfort in this arena shows throughout the entire adventure.

Even fans of Paul W.S. Anderson’s Resident Evil franchise might find themselves surprised by how much fun they have with Monster Hunter. Instead of engaging in the shoot ‘em up zombie action that particular concluded series was known for, Milla Jovovich and Tony Jaa’s unlikely pair is seen puzzling out how to defeat the various monsters they’re stacking up against. Though that’s not to say there isn’t a healthy amount of action packed into the movie, as Jovovich and Jaa get to square off with their individual fighting disciplines with rather impressive results.

Monster Hunter is pure adventure cinema, for better or worse.

If you’re looking for a story that packs a dense feeling of lore and world building, Monster Hunter isn’t exactly the film for you. With a first act that speeds through with as little build up as possible, there are clues thrown out for the audience to piece together the backstory, but very little handholding or exposition. This is a pure piece of adventure cinema, for better or worse, as the audience is given only the basics to get them on their feet before really heading into the cinematic world of this Capcom franchise.

However, once Monster Hunter finds its groove, Paul W.S. Anderson’s film plants its feet firmly in a world of action-fantasy survival, and from that moment on it’s a pure adventure romp that’s eager to please. Investing itself in a quest filled with problem solving, the slick fast cutting approach that Anderson has used in the past is eschewed for clear cut action and thought process that allows the audience to really take in the world it’s being shown. It’s no surprise that Monster Hunter is headed for theaters this weekend, as this is an absolute must see in as large a cinematic presence as you can get your hands on.

By the time Monster Hunter kicks into full gear, it becomes an action-fantasy ride that’s worth the ticket.

It takes a little while for Monster Hunter to hit its stride, but every step is confident and assured. When the film eventually finds its footing, an action-fantasy ride filled with interesting creatures and old fashioned thrills is to be had by those who decide to take the journey. This may very well be one of Paul W.S. Anderson’s best video game films, worthy of being mentioned in the company of Resident Evil, and even Mortal Kombat.

In a year that’s seen various movies delayed or released in a business model that’s far from typical, Monster Hunter is a prime example of a film that could only debut on the big screen. A story of such scope that it’s truly an adventure to experience, audiences that feel comfortable heading out to their local theater should seek out this fast moving thrill ride on a screen that can show these monsters in their truly massive scale. For a year that's made audiences miss going to the movies, Monster Hunter just might be one of the best reasons to get out to a theater near you.

In the modern age, the Chinese box office is a big deal. There are a lot of movie fans in the most populated country on Earth, and getting a blockbuster hit over there means raking in a lot of money. The problem is that opening an American film in the nation's theaters isn't the easiest task. Not only does the government limit the number of titles that can be released annually, there are also strict guidelines in terms of content that is allowed and that is not allowed. It's created a complicated history between Hollywood and China, and now a new chapter is being written due to a controversy surrounding a scene in Paul W.S. Anderson's Monster Hunter that has been deemed racially insensitive.

According to Variety, the video game adaptation starring Milla Jovovich hit the big screen this past Friday, but its run has come to an abrupt end as a result of a scene in the movie that some people have found to be offensive. The scene in question features Chinese rapper Jin Au-Yeung a.k.a. MC Jin and an unnamed actor riding in a vehicle. At one point Jin's character exclaims, "Look at my knees!" and the other character responds, "What kind of kneese are these?" Jin jokingly responds, "Chi-knees."

The reason this has been found offensive is because some have linked the line to an archaic, racist schoolyard rhyme that begins, "“Chinese, Japanese, dirty knees..."

Monster Hunter first premiered at midnight on Friday in China, and approximately 25 percent of screenings around the county were showing the film – but by Saturday the controversy had become so widespread that the percentage dropped to .7 percent. The trade's sources say that there was at one point a notice that said that a new censored cut of the movie was going to be made available, but the plans to make the edits haven't moved forward.

In an official statement (via Deadline), German production company Constantin Film has issued an official apology, saying,

This is a pretty big deal for the box office business of Monster Hunter, which was surely hoping that the film would find success in China. Major markets around the globe are still being affected by the on-going COVID-19 pandemic, which means that every ticket sold counts right now, but there is also the consideration that Paul W.S. Anderson movies have expectations of doing well overseas. As an example, the director's last film, 2016's Resident Evil: The Final Chapter, made $312.2 million when all was said and done with its global release, and $159.5 million of that came from China (that's 51 percent). Not being able to show in those theaters is going to seriously hurt the bottom line.

We'll have to wait and see where things go from here when it comes to this China situation, but for those of you who are interested in seeing Monster Hunter stateside the good news is that plans for its release have not changed. After initially being shifted to 2021, the movie – which stars the aforementioned Milla Jovovich and Jin Au-Yeung in addition to Tony Jaa, T.I., Meagan Good, Diego Boneta, and Ron Perlman – will be released on the big screen in open theaters on Christmas Day.

At this point in 2020, we were supposed to have already seen massive creatures rampaging on the screen, be it through Warner Bros’ gigantic blockbuster Godzilla vs. Kong or Sony’s return to the Milla Jovovich/Paul W.S. Anderson market Monster Hunter. 2020 being the wild year that it’s been, both of those films were delayed, with the projects looking to debut in 2021. However, fortune has smiled on those of you who are fans of Capcom’s notable gaming franchise, and if you want to see Jovovich battling dragons and other beasties from another world, you can get your first look below, with the whole picture now dated for a December 2020 debut.

Monster Hunter starts, as most good sci-fi adventures do, with an accident. In this particular instance, Milla Jovovich’s Lt. Artemis and her crew of rag tag soldiers accidentally get transported into another dimension of adventure. One where dragons and other beasts exist, and have humanity on the run. Of course, with superior weaponry, and a can do attitude, Lt. Artemis and her fighting force are going to take the fight to these creatures, and hopefully find their way home in the process.

Admittedly, watching the trailer to Monster Hunter is absolutely soothing. In a year of delays, and the promise of December bringing back some of those big screen thrills we’ve been missing for most of the year, the sight of Milla Jovovich taking aim at large scale aggressors with a rocket launcher is like a warm blanket. That blanket could destroy several city blocks, but still, comfort is comfort; especially when Sony’s planning to have Monster Hunter take the stage at almost the very end of the year. Of course, it wouldn’t be a Milla Jovovich/Paul W.S. Anderson movie without a cast of interesting supporting characters, played by actors we don’t want to see in harm’s way.

This time out, the cast is filled with stars like Meagan Good, Tip “T.I.” Harris, and martial artist extraordinaire Tony Jaa. Plus, if cast lists throughout the internet are any indication, Ron Perlman is going to show up at some point or another, which is always a good thing when giant mythological beasts need to be slain, or better understood. It’s really hard to argue against Monster Hunter’s trailer though, as a year of extraordinary circumstances deserves as much flash and pizazz as it can get; both of which are on display in this quick first look.

There’s only one complaint that we have with the trailer for Monster Hunter, and it’s a complaint that a lot of movies rack up with their trailers these days. Towards the end of the reel, right before we’re promised that the film will hit “Only In Theaters, December,” and given the news that this is a PG-13 flick, we see something that very much looks like a cliffhanger to that other Milla Jovovich video game based franchise. It’s not certain, but one could wager this is the big ending to this first Monster Hunter film, with an eye towards a future franchise in the works. Time will tell, but try watching that scene and not thinking that very same thing yourself.

Even if that assumption is right, Monster Hunter still looks it'll be just the blast we need at the end of this year. The film has its sights set on a big screen rollout, and it is currently slated to debut in theaters on December 30, 2020. You can see the competition this film will be up against as you head to our 2020 release schedule, which is frequently updated to tell you who’s still in the game for the theater experience before the end of the year.

There's a movie called Monster Hunter scheduled to be released this September 2020, based on the video game series. It was written and directed by Paul W. S. Anderson and stars Milla Jovovich, so hopefully Resident Evil fans are served what they like. But the first official photo for Monster Hunter came out in fall 2019, followed by two official posters this weekend, and now I'm thinking the star of the movie is not Milla Jovovich as Captain Natalie Artemis or even Tony Jaa as The Hunter. It's that sword. It has to be.

The sword is already prominent in that official movie photo, posted above, but check out the poster Milla Jovovich just shared, focusing on her character:

You'd think the sword's name was Milla Jovovich. There's a second poster in her Instagram post, slide over to see Tony Jaa as The Hunter. He doesn't get to hold the sword this time. I do love a clean, simple poster design that doesn't try to cram every character into the mix. So well done there. The images are striking.

I don't happen to play Monster Hunter, but it looks like there are all kinds of swords in use in the game, including the Great Sword. The movie seems to be sticking pretty closely to the game:

Hot damn! The Monster Hunter movie also stars Ron Perlman and T.I. Harris. Milla Jovovich posted a bloody photo with Perlman during filming for the movie back in December 2018:

Milla Jovovich followed that shortly afterward with a long wrap post on December 20, 2018, writing in part:

She also thanked the incredible cast and crew, and the military advisers for kicking her butt enough to bring Captain Artemis to life.

Back in November 2018, Paul W. S. Anderson talked to /FILM about Monster Hunter, revealing he was a fan of the games long before making this movie:

He said Monster Hunter is not quite like Resident Evil when it comes to creating new characters:

He said the movie leads heavily on the favorite creatures from Monster Hunter: World, but also bringing in some monsters from earlier games:

This will be a big year for Milla Jovovich and Paul W. S. Anderson. Not only do they have Monster Hunter hitting screens this fall, they already welcomed their third daughter a month ago in early February 2020. Monster Hunter is currently expected in theaters on September 4, 2020. Keep up with everything heading to the big screen this year with our 2020 movie release date schedule.

The box office numbers are in and the Hellboy r-rated remake didn’t win the box office. In fact, it didn’t even get second on its opening weekend. Instead, it landed in third place, so far only pulling in a little over $12 million at the box office on a reported $50 million budget.

It doesn’t look great for the superhero reboot, but Hellboy definitely has one person championing it: actress Milla Jovovich, who plays Nimue in the film.

In fact, the actress actually seems to be actively trying to stay pumped about Hellboy’s first weekend box office total. That’s because all of her “raddest films” really haven’t ignited at the box office. Or, as she put it,

As the actress notes, when you’re well known for movies that never really made a dent in the theatrical box office total, you get pretty inured to the showbiz cycle. In Milla Jovovich’s case, box office really hasn’t had much to do with the successes in her career.

She’s made a name for herself in projects like The Fifth Element and Resident Evil – both movies that made like $17 million on their respective opening weekends but went on to become cult favorites.

She continued to talk about these cult movies on Instagram, noting,

The good news for Hellboy is that even though critics do not seem to be loving the movie, the audience score for the flick is a little more on board. Hellboy does seem to have some fans out there and perhaps those fans will translate into fonder remembrances down the line.

Honestly, it was always a little confusing why Lionsgate wanted to release Hellboy in April. It seemed primed to be more of a late summer/ early fall title. Plus, April is jam-packed with superhero content. Sandwiching the R-rated movie between the PG-13 Shazam! and the PG-13 Avengers: Endgame may have seemed like counterprogramming, but to me it seemed like packing too much in. We wrote a comprehensive piece about this a couple of months ago here at CinemaBlend, although my coworker argued the movie should come out over the summer and not next fall. Either way, here we are.

Although I typically see myriad movies every month, most people don’t see three movies a year, much less three in one month and even fewer go see three superhero movies in a month! Movie also lose traction the longer they are in theaters, so it’s difficult to see where this one will earn its budget back unless it does become a cult favorite, as Milla Jovovich has suggested here.

Only time will tell if Hellboy lands closer to something like The Shadow in the superhero spectrum or ends up being a film that goes gently into the good night. We’ll keep you updated either way.

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DC and Marvel (be it Marvel Studios or projects from 20th Century Fox and Sony) have cornered the superhero movie market, but every now and then there's a project that hails from another company to impress audiences. Last decade, Hellboy left his mark in the earlier years of the comic book movie boom across two movies under the creative vision of Guillermo del Toro, and now the Dark Horse comics character is finally returning to the big screen for a new generation. Like any self-respecting reboot, this new movie is expected to tackle Hellboy much differently compared to its predecessors, and depending on how well it does critically and commercially, it could potentially launch a new series of films. With less than a week to go until Hellboy's release, here's everything we know about it so far.

What Have We Seen From Hellboy?

Luckily, we've had a good look at the action from Hellboy for several months now, including the above red-band trailer which shows off some of the reasons why the film was gifted with an R-rating. The new movie is certainly going for broke when it comes to language and violence, but it still seems to have a focus on humor, which seems to be used to break up the bloody destruction audiences will be in for when they head to theaters.

When Is Hellboy's Release Date?

Rather than face off against other major motion pictures in the summer season or even take its chances in the fall, Hellboy has set up shop in a month that has not been the typical destination for a comic book movie. Hellboy was originally scheduled to be released on January 11, 2019, which would have had it opening a week before M. Night Shyamalan's Glass, which served as a sequel to both 2000's Unbreakable and 2016's Split. And, while a battle between Hellboy and Glass would have been fun to watch, especially considering how well the latter film ended up doing, Hellboy later settled on a spring release date of April 12. But, this has turned out to be its own potential issue.

The week prior to the debut of Hellboy has already seen Shazam! open pretty big and with lots of critical and audience love. So, Hellboy is going to have to fight against that tide on opening weekend, and then battle the big guns a couple of weekends later when what might end up being the biggest movie of all time opens: Avengers: Endgame. Can Hellboy make its mark on the box office? We'll seen soon enough.

What Is Hellboy's Rating?

Technically, Hellboy wasn't officially rated by the MPAA until just a few weeks before it opened, as is standard, but the goal was always for the new movie to rest comfortably in R-rated territory, and it has hit that goal. According to Mike Mignola, the man who created Hellboy, the reason for wanting an R-rating from the jump wasn't because the reboot would necessarily be more violent than the Guillermo del Toro-helmed ones, but because it allows for more creative freedom. Rather than go the fantastical route that its predecessors went, Hellboy wanted to have more of a horror twist, meaning it should feel like a darker movie. With Hellboy gaining that R rating because of "strong bloody violence and gore throughout, and language," according to the MPAA, it sounds like this is a comic book movie that you shouldn't bring the kiddies to see.

The Director

Inheriting the reins left behind by Guillermo del Toro is Neil Marshall, a man who has experience directing both horror and action-packed tales. His movie-making resume includes Dog Soldiers and The Descent, while in the television realm, he's directed on Game of Thrones (one of his episodes earned him an Emmy nomination), Black Sails, Constantine, Hannibal, Timeless and Westworld. He is also an executive producer on Netflix' Lost in Space reboot series. Hellboy is unquestionably Marshall's biggest cinematic endeavor yet, but given his past horror work and how much more intense this reboot will be compared to its predecessors, ideally he's just the right kind of creative mind to bring a fresh perspective to this property. It wouldn't have been wise to hire someone too similar to del Toro, and if all goes well, Marshall will do a good job ensuring that his Hellboy movie can stand on its own.

What Is Hellboy About?

Right off the bat, in case the term "reboot" wasn't a clear enough indicator, Hellboy will not have any ties to the previous movies. It's an all-new cast performing in a story set in an all-new continuity. So, for those of you who waited for years of Guillermo del Toro, Ron Perlman and other key cast and crew members to reunite for Hellboy III, I'm sorry to say that it's not happening. In 2014, Mike Mignola began working with writer Andrew Cosby on what was originally intended to be a sequel to Hellboy II: The Golden Army, but when del Toro was approached to produce it rather than direct, he decided not to be involved at all. That subsequently led to Ron Perlman bowing out, and once Neil Marshall came on board, it was appropriately decided the movie would be a reboot. All this being said, for the longtime Hellboy comic book readers out there, the reboot will be more faithful to the source material.

Inspired by the Darkness Calls, The Wild Hunt and The Storm and the Fury storylines, Hellboy will follow the eponymous protagonist trying to prevent an evil sorceress from destroying humanity. Even though the reboot will have more of a horror hook, a story like this also allows for plenty of fantastical elements to be seeded throughout. Hellboy is a formidable character, and with the aid of his allies at the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense (BPRD), hopefully they'll be able to ensure that the main antagonist doesn't wipe out our kind. Beyond that, plot details are being kept under wraps, but as we get closer to the new Hellboy movie's release, it will be interesting to learn how this world differs from the one Guillermo del Toro oversaw.

Hellboy

In the comics, Hellboy was a half-human, half-demon (birth mother human, father demon), while in the Guillermo del Toro-directed movies, he was a full demon. Whatever his heritage is in the reboot, no doubt like in the source material and previous movies, he will be drawn to Earth as an infant and be raised to be a force for good. His special abilities include super human strength, enhanced healing and an extended life span. He also has the rock-hard Right Hand of Doom, which in the comics is the key to eventually bringing about the end of the world, and he's quite a good shot with oversized pistols. To better fit in among humans, Hellboy files off his horns, though they've been known to magically grow back every now and then.

Succeeding Ron Perlman as Hellboy is David Harbour, who is best known for playing Chief Jim Hopper on Netflix's hit series Stranger Things. The Hellboy reboot will be Harbour's third superhero movie, after previously appearing in The Green Hornet and Suicide Squad (he also auditioned to play Blob in X-Men Origins: Wolverine). Just like Perlman's Hellboy, Harbour's iteration is an all-practical creation, which required the actor to ditch his trademark dad bod. Harbour also admitted that some of his friends tried to convince him not to take the role.

While no specific details about this version of Hellboy have been revealed yet, Harbour has said that the new movie will offer a more faithful take on the character. Noting that his Hellboy will go through"a lot more struggle, a lot more angst," with some of that being due to the fact that he won't have a love interest, partly because this version of Hellboy can't have sex with humans. The actor has also compared the protagonist's inner turmoil (being an adopted kid from hell who wants to do good despite being destined to bring about the apocalypse) to Hamlet. Whatever Harbour's portrayal of Hellboy will look like, he seems to have a good handle on the character.

Trevor Bruttenholm

Professor Trevor Bruttenholm is the only other character from the previous Hellboy movies who's been announced to appear in the Hellboy reboot, and for good reason. In the comics, "Broom," one of humanity's greatest experts on the occult, was a member of the British Paranormal Society, and later became an adviser to President Franklin Roosevelt when the Allies learned that Hitler was trying to use the occult to his own advantage during World War II. Then on December 23, 1944, while joining a group of U.S. soldiers from preventing Rasputin (yes, that Rasputin), from enacting Project Ragna Rok, a demon child appeared before Broom at the time that Rasputin called upon the Ogdru Jahad, powerful entities who are the main antagonists of the Hellboy mythos. That child was Hellboy, and Broom took a liking to the lad, eventually adopting him after helping to form the BPRD.

The late John Hurt played Trevor Bruttenholm in the previous Hellboy movies, and Ian McShane will take over the role for the reboot. McShane's notable work includes Deadwood, the John Wick movies, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides and American Gods. McShane mentioned that Hellboy and Broom's relationship will be "quite crusty" because the former wonders why the latter didn't kill him because he's a monster, but so far that's all we know about Broom in the reboot.

One thing worth noting is that when Hellboy first began publication, and even in the earlier movies, it was plausible for Broom to have been a young man during World War II and still be alive in the present day, but with a reboot being released now, that's harder to pull off. Setting Hellboy in the 1990s (or somewhere in that ballpark) would be a good way around that, but perhaps moving Broom's discovery of Hellboy to the 1960s (or so) would also work. But, since they appear to be setting the action in the modern day, another possibility is that something has mystically kept Broom in better health as he's gotten older.

Nimue

In the Hellboy comics, Nimue (who is also known as the Queen of Blood and the Lady of the Lake) lived during King Arthur's reign and managed to persuade Merlin to share the secrets of magic with her. Nimue then locked the wizard away, but her newfound knowledge drove her mad, and a group of witches decided to cut her into little pieces and scatter her across the world so that she could never reform and threaten Earth. Well, you guessed it, in the present day, Nimue was revived, and she immediately began forming her own army, but she was eventually killed in battle by Hellboy. However, before being dragged to Hell, Nimue managed to rip Hellboy's heart out and drag him to Hell with her.

For Hellboy, Nimue the Blood Queen will be played by Milla Jovovich, who has left her mark in the genre world as Alice in the Resident Evil movies and is also recognizable from The Fifth Element, Zoolander and The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc. All we've learned so far about the cinematic Nimue is that she still hails from medieval times and wants to destroy humanity. Even though the new Hellboy movie is drawing inspiration from her story arcs from the comics, don't be surprised if it also takes some creative liberties with her.

Ben Daimio

Ben Daimio was introduced to the Hellboy mythos in 2004, the same year the first Guillermo del Toro Hellboy movie came out. Ben was originally the leader of a Marine squad that was sent to rescue a group of nuns who were kidnapped by a terrorist group, but during the rescue attempt the squad was attacked by the true culprits, a murderous jaguar-worshipping cult. A mysterious entity then killed all the Marines, including Daimio. However, three days later, Daimio came back to life, albeit with the left side of his face scarred. Now able to turn into a jaguar-like creature during periods of intense stress, Daimio joined the BPRD

Originally Deadpool's Ed Skrien was supposed to play Ben Daimio in Hellboy, but the casting was met with accusations of whitewashing. A week later, Skrien voluntarily dropped out, and Hawaii 5-0's Daniel Dae Kim was tapped to play Daimio the following month, and this version of the character will still be a BPRD agent who has monstrous transformation problems.

Alice Monaghan

Joining Hellboy and Ben Daimio as mystically-gifted protagonists is Alice Monaghan, a woman of Irish descent who Hellboy rescued from fairies when she was an infant. Decades later, Alice retains some special abilities due to her time with the fairies, and even though she is in her fifties in the present day in the comics, she still looks like a young woman. Alice will be played by American Honey's Sasha Lane in Hellboy. It looks like she will help out as a BPRD agent in the movie, but beyond that we don't know much about her.

Other Characters

Now that we've covered Hellboy's main cast, let's touch on who some of the minor characters will be. Chief among them will be Ganeida, an elder witch who has decided that Nimue's reign of terror has gone on for long enough and needs to be stopped. She will be played by The Vampire Diaries' Penelope Mitchell, and one wonders if her character will be the catalyst to drawing in Hellboy and the BPRD to help battle Nimue. Joining Mitchell's Ganeida are Hotel Rwanda's Sofie Okonedo as Lady Hatton, a seer who resides at the Osiris Club, which is dedicated to solving supernatural mysteries; Rogue One: A Star Wars Story's Alistair Petrie as Lord Adam Glaren, a high-ranking Osiris Club member; and Phantom Thread's Robert Gleeson as Merlin, who, if this reboot is staying true to the comics, will be the man responsible for Nimue becoming so powerful.

Hellboy will be in theaters in just a few days now, so be sure to keep up with this guide for any major reveals that come out before this weekend!

A good reboot should have enough distinguishing features from its predecessors that it feels like a fresh take on the material rather than a copy of what came before. Hellboy is accomplishing this by featuring an almost entirely different cast of characters, which includes the main antagonist, Nimue the Blood Queen, played by Milla Jovovich. Although audiences are meant to root for Hellboy and his allies at the Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense (BPRD) to defeat Nimue, Jovovich can actually sympathize with her character. In her words:

Millar Jovovich (jokingly) defended her position while speaking with Kevin Smith in her IMDB interview by saying that Nimue the Blood Queen is just trying to bring the human world and monster world together, which apparently a lot of folks aren’t keen about. Maybe if we didn’t know going into Hellboy that Nimue is the primary villain, we might share that sentiment for a bit, but alas, in this story, she’s on the wrong side of things.

In theory, it’d be nice if the human world and monster world could be brought together so its inhabitants could coexist peacefully. There are just two problems with that idea. One, most monsters aren’t as fond of humans as Hellboy is. Many of them, in fact, want to wreak chaos and destruction on Earth, hence why the BPRD exists. Two, if she’s anything like her comic book counterpart, then Jovovich’s Nimue implementing her plans will result in a lot of people dying. So yeah, it’s a good thing that Big Red and the BPRD gang are interfering with her schemes.

Still, at least Hellboy is another opportunity for Milla Jovovich to jump back in the action realm. She’s arguably best known for playing Alice in the Resident Evil film series, which wrapped up in 2016. Her other prominent credits include The Fifth Element, The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc and Zoolander. She’s also starring in the upcoming Monster Hunter.

The Hellboy reboot is inspired by the comic book storylines Darkness Calls, The Wild Hunt, and The Storm and the Fury, with Nimue having appeared in the latter two. Along with Milla Jovovich, the reboot stars David Harbour as Hellboy, Ian McShane as Trevor Bruttenholm, Sasha Lane as Alice Monaghan and Daniel Dae Kim as Ben Daimio. The Descent’s Neil Marshall directed and Andrew Cosby wrote the script.

Hellboy hits theaters on April 12, so stay tuned to CinemaBlend for continuing coverage. For now, browse through our 2019 release schedule to learn what else is coming out this year.

Monster Hunter isn't a video game series that's well known to the general public around here, but the first image makes the film adaptations influences quite clear. The first official look at the Monster Hunter movie is here and it includes two things you'd expect to see in any movie based on a video game, Milla Jovovich, and a big ass sword. Check it out.

The image is a pretty simple one in the grand scheme of things. It's Milla Jovovich, a veteran of the Resident Evil film franchise, and martial arts expert Tony Jaa running across the desert, or possibly a beach. The image wouldn't even be all that noteworthy except for the fact that Tony Jaa is carrying a sword as big as his head. If you had never heard of Monster Hunter before, you'd likely be able to tell that the new movie was based on a video game based on that alone.

While the Monster Hunter video game series is fairly popular in its native Japan and has no shortage of fans in the west, it's not exactly a mainstream game title. While your average filmgoer has likely heard of names like Mario, Zelda, or even the previous Milla Jovovich-led Resident Evil series, unless you play games, you may not know Monster Hunter at all.

At its core, the Monster Hunter game series is exactly what it says on the tin. A game in which players take the role of a character who is a professional hunter of monsters. These monsters can be killed or trapped. The games take place in a fantasy world where humans are regularly threatened by various creatures, and the player's job is to stop the monsters from doing damage.

Most of the games in the series have little more plot than that, though the most recent game in the franchise Monster Hunter: World has a bit more going on in the story department.

The movie will reportedly take a slightly different approach the basic material, as it will see characters from our modern world fall through a portal to an alternate dimension which appears to resemble the Monster Hunter world I just described. The modern humans will then have to become monster hunters in order to prevent the creatures from traveling back through the portal and attacking Earth.

Monster Hunter is being directed by Paul W.S. Anderson, who spent the last several years bringing us the aforementioned Resident Evil movies alongside his wife Milla Jovovich. Those movies also took some significant liberties with the source material but frequently brought us some entertaining action movies if nothing else.

The Monster Hunter movie is currently without a release date but as one expects the film will require some significant post-production time in order to create all the various monsters that need to be hunted, don't expect to see this one before early 2020.

With the recent release of Resident Evil: The Final Chapter, the story of Alice Marcus has officially come to a close. The franchise has become one of the most successful video game-inspired adaptations of all time, and Paul W.S. Anderson's first film from 2002 handily turned Milla Jovovich into a bonafide superstar in the action genre. However, despite the series' successes, it seems that Jovovich almost quit the first film because a rewrite to the script gave Michelle Rodriguez's Rain all of the best moments in the story. Jovovich recently opened up and explained the 15-year-old dilemma, saying:

By "rewrote the script for her," Jovovich means that Michelle Rodriguez got all of the awesome action scenes that were initially intended for Alice -- the decision itself stemming from Rodriguez's near-overnight stardom with the release of Girlfight. The rewrites created an imbalance in the script, in which Rodriguez's character performed all of the badass zombie-killing maneuvers, and Jovovich was more or less along for the ride. Jovovich noticed these changes on a flight to Germany before commencing production on the film, but before cameras started to roll, she sat down with Paul W.S. Anderson and forced the director (who would eventually become her husband) to take another look at the script. The script finally received a rewrite, and Alice and Rain both became the ultimate badasses of the story.

In the end, Milla Jovovich's comments to Inverse lend the sense that she doesn't harbor any resentment over the fundamental imbalance in Resident Evil's script. She ultimately went on to become the undeniable star of the franchise, while Michelle Rodriguez eventually stuck with the Fast and Furious series as Letty Toretto. Both of them have become two of the most iconic female action stars of the modern age, but it's still fascinating to look back and see how they shared the screen with one another early on in the franchise's history.

Although the Resident Evil series as we know it has officially come to an end, it's worth noting that the property is far from over on the silver screen. It was recently reported that a James Wan-produced reboot is currently in development, and the new take on the classic series will propel the franchise in a brand new direction. We're not sure what the film is going to look like just yet, but whoever writes the script would be wise to divide the action up reasonably to make sure the lead actress doesn't threaten to quit.

We will keep you posted with more updates related to the future of the Resident Evil franchise as more news about the reboot becomes available. Resident Evil: The Final Chapter was one of the first major franchises to release a film this year, but we still have plenty more on the horizon. Check out our 2017 movie premiere guide for more information about this year's most highly anticipated theatrical releases!

It's only been a few months since the Resident Evil film franchise wrapped itself up, but now talks of a reboot are already happening. The star has some thoughts on this. Milla Jovovich says that she completely understands, from a business perspective, why somebody would want to reboot the franchise already, however, she also says money can't be the only reason that these decisions get made because it won't work. According to Jovovich...

Milla Jovovich admits to Comicbook.com that if she were a producer she would be interested in rebooting the series. From a financial standpoint, the films have been big hits in the global box office. It's not a shock that somebody would want to look at a way to bring the movies back right after they wrapped up. However, she also says that the people involved in the first five films had a passion for Resident Evil and based on the fact that, in the initial report, there didn't appear to be anybody officially attached to this reboot, the actress is afraid that the reboot will turn off fans if it comes across strictly as a money making venture.

There is another piece of interesting information here, specifically, the fact that Milla Jovovich says "they" have wanted to reboot the series for a long time. Since the last film only came out this past January, it would appear that the plans to reboot actually started at some point during the first franchise's production. This may actually be a good thing as it means that the reboot idea isn't something that's being made up entirely out of whole cloth now. If the idea has been around for a while then maybe it's had time to grow and evolve.

While the initial announcement that the Resident Evil reboot was underway came without details, it's since been reported that James Wan is on board as a producer. That much at least would seem to indicate that reboot plans are serious, as Wan is a significant name. It will be interesting to see if this reboot moves quickly, or shambles through like an undead zombie.

Earlier this year it looked as though Resident Evil had finally run its course on the big screen, with director Paul W.S. Anderson delivering fans Resident Evil: The Final Chapter back in January. It turns out that while it's true that we may never see Milla Jovovich's Alice again, however, the franchise is far from done, as reboot plans are now in the works.

Variety is reporting news out of the Cannes Film Festival that Constantin Film - the production company that owns the movie rights to the Resident Evil franchise - is currently in the midst of planning a brand new future for the property. As of now there are no other details available about the developing project - including what characters it may follow, who is involved creatively, and how it may relate to the previous movies - but what we do know is that the big screen video game series is far from dead.

The six Resident Evil movies that were released between 2002 and 2017 were never huge domestic hits, but they managed to continue being released thanks to high demand overseas (particularly in China). None of the films managed to make more than $60 million at the United States box office, but they all made over $100 million when worldwide numbers were factored in. It actually makes all of the sense in the world that Constantin Films wants to keep the Resident Evil movies going, as Resident Evil: The Final Chapter made an impressive $312 million globally on a $40 million budget (the movie only made $26 million in America).

What does seem likely is that the husband-wife duo that has been at the heart of the last 15 years of the franchise will not be involved. Paul W.S. Anderson wrote all six Resident Evil movies, and directed four of them, while Milla Jovovich starred in every single installment. In the making of The Final Chapter, both were adamant about it being the end - and that won't necessarily change just because the production company wants the features to keep coming.

Obviously there isn't much to know about this new Resident Evil reboot just yet, but given that this announcement is coming just four months after the release of what was the franchise finale, it's easy to imagine more details rolling in soon. Be sure to stay tuned here on CinemaBlend for all of the latest updates, and be sure to hit the comments section below to tell us what you think about this new development.

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Resident Evil is dead. Finished. Over with. Pretty sewn up. After 15 years and six films, we're at the end of the franchise with Resident Evil: The Final Chapter. Those of you in mourning may take a moment to reflect upon this moment, while the rest of you celebrating will be vindicated. While Paul W.S. Anderson's final entry into the series he created shows slivers of promise that are ignored in favor of bigger, louder explosions, it most certainly doesn't vindicate the direction the series decided to take back in Resident Evil: Extinction. This is the way the franchise ends. Not with a bang, but with a "meh."

After a prolonged battle against the Umbrella Corporation, Alice (Milla Jovovich) is returning to The Hive - the site that started it all. With only 48 hours to prevent the extinction of the human race, she'll meet up with old friends (Ali Larter) and face off against old foes (Iain Glen). When all of this is over, humanity will either rise from the ashes or fall from grace.

Resident Evil: The Final Chapter is the second entry in the Resident Evil series that feels like it's jumped over a film, leaving gaps in the story so wide that one of those flying dragon creatures could easily fly through it. Whatever story is present in the latest Resident Evil film is pretty simple, and builds itself off of the back of the long legacy W.S. Anderson's original films sparked off. Most specifically, there are callbacks to the first film that bring the series full circle. While these would have been interesting points to make at the end of a trilogy, it's all too little too late when you hit your sixth movie.

And yet, for all of the faults this film has, it gives Resident Evil fans, and fans of entertaining movie villains, a great big parting gift: Iain Glen's performance as Dr. Alexander Issacs. A character introduced in the second film, Resident Evil: Apocalypse, his return is the best damned part of Resident Evil: The Final Chapter, as he leans into the absurdities given to his character with great aplomb. Playing Issacs with just the right amount of lethal smarm and snark, the veteran character actor chews scenery like the best of them, and offers the audience portions to take home in a doggie bag.

While Resident Evil: The Final Chapter isn't a film that comes highly recommended, it's certainly not the worst in the series: that dishonor belongs to the achingly dull Resident Evil: Afterlife. That's mostly because the groundwork that Paul W.S. Anderson tries to build retroactively into the Resident Evil story somewhat works. If the film spent some more time building its story foundation, and slowed down the camera work so that we could actually see the monsters, it may have ranked closer to the top of the list. As it stands, the film probably ranks dead center in the line-up. So if you're looking for the most meh-tacular finale to a high-octane action franchise, Resident Evil: The Final Chapter delivers. Hey, at least it's better than the Underworld franchise.

Oh, Resident Evil. What can you say about Paul W.S. Anderson's movie franchise that people haven't already highlighted? For starters, it's a franchise that's spanned six movies and 15 years, when three solid films over six years might have done better. It's gone from kinda scary to kinda action packed to paper thin, and to be completely honest it's kinda got to go. And yet, there's one simple solution for all of the series' various issues: it's time to reboot the Resident Evil franchise.

With Resident Evil: The Final Chapter allegedly closing the Anderson franchise, it's time to give the franchise the fresh coat of paint that it deserves. There's a good story in the source material, and there's even better angles that can be taken with the saga, with the right sort of thinking. Humbly submitted for your approval, here are our reasons as to why Resident Evil needs an undead refresh.

We Need A Proper Adaptation Of The Games

Before Paul W.S. Anderson gave us Alice, "The Mansion," and the Resident Evil that resembled the games on a surface level, George A. Romero was supposed to bring the action of the games to life -- and with an actual adaptation of the first game's events. If only Sony hadn't passed on that version of the story, we could have seen the Spencer Mansion on the big screen, in lavish, bloody detail. Now that Alice's adventures are wrapping up as we know them on the big screen, and interest in the series has been sparked up once more, we hope the folks in charge will take the opportunity to start a new save file, and play Resident Evil on a harder difficulty level.

It's Not Scary Anymore, And That's An Issue

The hardest thing to remember about the Resident Evil film franchise is the fact that, for at least one movie, it was actually kind of scary. While it wasn't necessarily so spooky that we were having nightmares, at least Paul W.S. Anderson's first installment styled itself as a horror film. But as time went on, the franchise became more of a buffet of action set-pieces and post-apocalyptic sci-fi, yet even that became stale. Out of the two genres that the films have dabbled in, Resident Evil probably has a better chance of surviving as a film series if it goes back to its horror roots by hiring someone who can handle modern horror / conspiracy stories.

The Story Is Broken Beyond Repair

Ok, you can have a moment to laugh at the headline. Yes, we know Resident Evil isn't the type of film you go to for a story-heavy experience. Well, as anyone who's played the games will tell you, it damned well should be. This is especially important after the Anderson series has had good guys turn heel, Wesker making side deals with the heroes in order to get things done, Alice losing her powers (only to get them back), and several characters that have fallen off the face of the films. (Where the hell was Chris Redfield in Resident Evil: Retribution?) Even with the customary introduction where Alice reminds us of her name and the last couple of movies that came before, the actual themes of the films are as thin as tissue paper. Bring back the shadowy conspiracy aspect of the Umbrella Corporation, with limited outbreaks cropping up to keep it interesting.

The Reboot Strategy Actually Worked For The Games

Much like the film franchise, the video game series for Resident Evil has taken a bit of a beating with more recent entries. By time Resident Evil 6 came around, there was some major griping with fans of the console based incarnation of zombie mayhem. So what did Capcom do? They took a step back, refreshed the franchise with Resident Evil VII, and went with a game teased as being a Texas Chainsaw Massacre variant of the horror classic. How it connects to the six games before it, we're not so sure, as the folks over in GamesBlend haven't relinquished their copies yet. But the buzz on the street pretty much says that taking a novel approach to the storied franchise worked for the video game side. The movies need just as swift a kick in the ass.

A Fresh Start Almost Always Helps

No matter how much evidence you put in front of the judges known as the viewing public, the scientific fact is starting over with a fresh draft gives you a lot of leeway with what you're creating. Even if Screen Gems didn't want to adapt the games outright, and just wanted to create a new series that ran parallel to the games, or was heavily inspired by them but took new twists, we could get behind that sort of action. The era that Resident Evil was born in has long since died, just ask the folks who winced at the idea of xXx: The Return of Xander Cage. If the horror of Raccoon City is going to have any chance of returning to the multiplex, new creators and visionaries are going to have to give the series a modern revival. If Tomb Raider can get remade, Resident Evil surely deserves to be born again.

Production on Resident Evil: The Final Chapter was marked with tragedy in September 2015 when stunt woman Olivia Jackson was horribly injured on the first day after she crashed into a camera crane on her motorcycle, made even worse by the fact that she wasn't wearing protective headgear due to the nature of the scene being shot. The accident left her in a medically-induced coma for two weeks, and she was later forced to have her arm amputated. Needless to say this event affected everyone involved with the movie, including Milla Jovovich, who plays the lead protagonist, Alice. Here's what she recently had to say about the horrible matter:

During an interview with Collider while principal photography was still happening, Milla Jovovich gave the above statement about Olivia Jackson's accident, mentioning how the "nightmare" of an accident nearly shut down Resident Evil: The Final Chapter's production permanently and how it was the first time she saw director Paul W.S. Anderson cry. Sadly, this wasn't the only tragedy that happen during the shoot. On December 3, 2015, crew member Ricardo Cornelius was crushed by a Humvee that wasn't properly secured on a rotating platform, and he died a few hours later. Nevertheless, production pushed forward and concluded later that December, but its effects are still being felt over a year later, and will continue to be felt in the future.

As the title makes clear, Resident Evil: The Final Chapter will be the last entry in the Resident Evil film series that's been going since 2002. The sixth movies will pick up immediately after the events of Retribution and see Alice returning to the location where this insanity began: Raccoon City. From there, she'll wage a final battle against the Umbrella Corporation, the organization responsible for this world's zombie apocalypse, as they unleash their forces against the remaining survivors.

Resident Evil: The Final Chapter hits theaters on Friday, January 27.

The Resident Evil franchise has managed to do something unprecedented in the world of video game movies: succeed. Beginning in 2002 as a tight, single location thriller with a sci-fi twist, the series has evolved over the course of six movies to become an apocalyptic nightmare. Paul W.S. Anderson and Milla Jovovich will soon bring the franchise to an end with the aptly titled Resident Evil: The Final Chapter, and it looks like Alice plans to go out with a bang. Check out the film's brand new trailer to see for yourself.

Much like the first footage we saw for Resident Evil: The Final Chapter, this new trailer really sells the finality of the film. Alice is done running, and she has every intention of bringing the fight to the Albert Wesker (Shawn Roberts), Alexander Isaacs (Iain Glen), and Umbrella Corporation when she finds out that she may be able to reverse the effects of the T-Virus. Along the way she teams up with familiar faces such as Claire Redfield (Ali Larter) Ada Wong (Li Bingbing), to help bring the franchise full circle. Expect plenty of monsters, motorcycles, and machine guns along the way.

In an era defined by franchises and interconnected universes, it's really refreshing to see a film that seems intent on truly bringing its series to an end. Everything we've seen from Resident Evil: The Final Chapter seems to indicate that Alice's journey will genuinely come to a close by the time the credits roll on this film, which means literally anything can happen. Sure, we expect her to kick some serious ass and rack up an enormous body count during The Final Chapter, that doesn't mean she's guaranteed a happy ending in which she walks off into the sunset.

However, despite the apocalyptic backdrop, we should really note that the final installment in the Resident Evil franchise looks like a ton of fun. It's unclear whether or not the actual movie will utilize the fast paced, rock and roll style that has characterized the trailers, but such a creative decision could go a long way towards establishing The Final Chapter as an adrenaline fueled thrill ride. If the film lives up to the high quality of its marketing, then we could be looking at the best Resident Evil film to date. We will continue to keep our fingers crossed that Paul W.S. Anderson and Milla Jovovich manage to send this franchise out on the highest possible note.

CinemaBlend will bring you all of the latest and greatest news related to the upcoming release of Resident Evil: The Final Chapter as more information becomes available to us. The final installment in the long-running, undead video game franchise will blast its way into theaters this winter on January 27, 2017. Stay tuned for more awesome details!

Action franchises come in all shapes and sizes these days, but video game movie franchises often represent the bottom of the barrel. Over the years Hollywood has adapted numerous major video game series, typically with lackluster results. One of the few series to gain any real traction is the Milla Jovovich fronted Resident Evil series, which has seen five installments over the last 15 years. We've been waiting anxiously for our first good look at the final entry in the long-running franchise---aptly titled Resident Evil: The Final Chapter -- and Jovovich recently took to Twitter to reveal when the trailer will finally drop.

According to Milla Jovovich's tweet we're going to see the first ever trailer for Resident Evil: The Final Chapter very, very soon. She revealed that the trailer will hit the web on August 9, and she will proctor a Twitter Q&A session to accompany the preview's release. Beyond that she gave no indication as to the nature of the trailer's content, just that it's on the way and that she will take social media to answer any and all fan questions regarding the upcoming film.

The trailer for Resident Evil: The Final Chapter will really represent the first major glimpse at the upcoming video game adaptation. Although we've reported extensively about the film over the last year, we still know very little about its actual narrative. At this point all we can really confirm is that The Final Chapter will take place immediately after Resident Evil: Retribution, and that Milla Jovovich and Ali Larter will reprise their respective roles as Alice and Claire Redfield.

If there's one major aspect of Resident Evil: The Final Chapter that has us excited, it's the fact that the film will truly represent the "final" installment in the series. These days action franchises constantly strive for longevity, and as a result the filmmakers often feel like they need to end on cliffhangers that set up future films. With the Resident Evil series actually coming to an end after almost 15 years, The Final Chapter will seemingly offer us a definitive conclusion to Alice's story during which anything can (and should) happen.

Our anticipation for Resident Evil: The Final Chapter feels further enhanced by the film's behind the scenes drama. Recently it was reported that a crewmember died on set while filming in a major set piece for the action blockbuster, and as such that tragedy has loomed over much of the film's publicity. At this point all eyes are on the film to honor the crewmember's tragic passing while closing out the series on a high note.

We will bring you all of the latest and greatest news pertaining to Resident Evil: The Final Chapter as more information becomes available to us. The first official trailer for the upcoming video game movie will drop on August 9, and the film will finally hit theaters on January 27, 2017.

Go ask Alice, though you just might need to speak up a bit, as she’s hard of hearing. Resident Evil star Milla Jovovich recently posted an instagram shot of her in makeup for the highly anticipated final installment, Resident Evil: The Final Chapter. Check it out:

Holy Geriatric Batman! This is a huge difference from the svelte, ass-kicking Alice that we’re used to seeing Jovovich play. While Alice is surely not going to be in the zombie nursing home from the jump of the film, it is exciting knowing that we’re going to see such an arc coming from the protagonist of the long-running series. And it has been a long one.

The Resident Evil film franchise began with the first film in 2002, starring none other than Milla Jovovich as the protagonist Alice, a character that never appeared in the video game series which the films were based off of. All of the films were written by film franchise mastermind Paul W.S. Anderson, and he also directed many of them. Rest easy, Resident Evil superfans, Anderson is set to write and direct the final installment as well.

News of the sixth and final Resident Evil entry was a bit of a surprise to fans and nay-sayers alike. The most recent films, Afterlife and Retribution, were flops, critically. Additionally, the box office results for both films were poor, and Afterlife also added unnecessary 3-D graphics into the mix for a trinity of dismay.

That being said, Jovovich’s Instagram post does make me excited to see where the final film will take us. Final chapters are always fun, as the filmmakers can make the stakes as high as they want, kill who they want, and basically pull out any stops since there doesn’t have to be a plan for another sequel.

Fans will also be pleased to see Ali Larter returning for another installment after appearing in two previous Resident Evil films - she skipped a few in the middle there - as video game character Claire Redfield. Since I’m personally tiffed we haven’t yet seen her in Heroes Reborn, I’ll just have to pretend that she’s got Super Strength or Ice Powers so I can have my cake and eat it too.

It should be interesting to see how Alice gets to her decrepit form. Did her adventures and battles age her prematurely? Or did Alice get to finally have a happy ending, growing old and become a tough ass G-Ma with a walker that doubles as a rocket launcher? I’m hoping for option two. Assisted Living Resident Evil would be too good to pass up.

At this point in the Resident Evil franchise, there have been almost about as many movies in the Resident Evil franchise as there have been the video game series it’s based on. At this point, the film series appears to be as undead as the zombies that star in it. But the beginning of the end is in fact near, as we now have the first screenshot of Resident Evil: The Final Chapter. Emphasis on the word "screen."

Film star Milla Jovovich posted the above image of her character Alice, with her back to the camera, on her Instagram account. The shot doesn’t give us much to go on, in fact it has what appears to be destruction in the background and Milla Jovovich looking like a badass in the foreground. In short, it is definitely a shot taken from a Resident Evil movie. If you’ve been one of the people waiting for this latest, and supposedly final sequel, all signs point to this being exactly what you were waiting for.

This first look at the latest Resident Evil film is so fresh, we have to assume they’re going over the dailies or some other sort of footage review. We're also going to assume she asked permission, as piracy is frowned upon in Hollywood, and leaks are more common than you'd think. Still, the shot is vague enough to be on the safer side of things, and this doesn't seem like the type of shot to cause too much of a security crisis.

The Final Chapter marks the sixth film in the series, which matches the quantity of numbered entries in the series. While the game Resident Evil 7 is on the way, all involved in Resident Evil: The Final Chapter are promising that this film will live up to its name and end the series. While we really want to believe that, we’d be remiss if we didn’t point out that this film has the same title as a certain Friday the 13th movie that wasn’t even close to being the end of that series. So you can't really blame us if we fully expect Paul W.S. Anderson to announce Resident Evil: A New Beginning in about 18 months. No, actually we don’t expect that. God, please don’t do that!

It has been a long road to the final chapter of the Resident Evil films, as we were supposed to have seen the film released this time last year. That changed really quickly when Jovovich came down with a serious case of pregnancy, resulting in the entire production having to be pushed back for some time. Just recently, the cast and crew of Resident Evil: The Final Chapter had gotten to work in South Africa, with an eye to a release next fall.

Resident Evil is by far the most successful series of films based on a video game. This is odd, as few would ever call it out as an example of a game being properly translated into film. Fewer still would call this a quality source of cinema, but it’s got zombies and guns, so someone's going to watch it. For now, we’ll focus on the positives and wait to see how Resident Evil: The Final Chapter will close the book next fall.

We’ve known for some time that Milla Jovovich’s Alice and Ali Larter’s Claire Redfield would reunite one last time for Resident Evil: The Final Chapter – that doesn’t make seeing the reunion any less badass. Jovovich just posted a selfie from the film’s set, and our appetites for more undead action have officially been whetted. Check the photo out for yourself below.

Posted to the actress’ Instagram account, the photo is your run of the mill selfie. There’s not much to glean from the photo itself, but let’s dissect what we can. Alice is looking fairly battered, hinting at some fairly intense action for the final installment of the movie. She appears to wear some form tactical vest – where else will she carry her usual arsenal? The Resident Evil films have varied in visual aesthetic over the years, from practical and tactical to more stylized costumes and design. From what little we get to see here, it seems like The Final Chapter will veer more towards the former.

There’s less to note about Larter’s appearance in the photo – which shows even less of her costume. She seems considerably less injured that Jovovich, either indicating Redfield won’t be at the forefront of the action as much as Alice, or that she simply wasn’t shooting any scenes. Despite the fact that this selfie only features these two specific actresses, we already know that the final Resident Evil will boat a massive and impressive cast including: Iain Glen, Ruby Rose, and Shawn Roberts.

Behind the two actresses is a wall covered in license plates, possibly hinting that at some point in the film, their characters will either engage in a fight – or seek refuge – within a garage of some sort. Longtime fans of the franchise will particularly like the brief glimpse of a Raccoon City plate behind them.

Jovovich has done an effective job of getting fans excited about the upcoming project. As far back as this past June she began posting photos to her Instagram from the South Africa based production of The Final Chapter, ranging from this selfie with Ali Larter, to shots from the special effects department as the prepare the zombies that will inhabit the film.

With Resident Evil: The Final Chapter truly the final chapter of the franchise, we have taken every opportunity to take in and dissect every possible detail we can get our hands on. As more and more information becomes available, we will be sure to analyze it for your reading pleasure. Written and directed by Paul W.S. Anderson, Resident Evil: The Final Chapter will hit theaters January 27, 2017.

After more than a decade in existence, the Resident Evil franchise is coming to an end. Since back in 2002, we’ve seen the video game series launch five films into theaters, each one finding fans around the world, and compelling them to come back for the next installment. Now Resident Evil: The Final Chapter is ready to get rolling, and in anticipation, the project has announced its full cast.

Deadline has the scoop on the new additions to the final sequel in the Resident Evil series, and it’s a mix of both franchise regulars and new faces. Read on to find out who will be a part of the team trying to save the world and the human race.

This one should be absolutely no shock to anyone who has been following the Resident Evil franchise over the years. While many castmembers have come and gone, Milla Jovovich has stuck around, and is now set to play the heroic Alice for the sixth time. Of course, exactly where the series will leave her at the very end is the big mystery.

It was back in early August that we first heard stories about Ali Larter coming back for another Resident Evil production, and now that the film is getting into production mode that casting has been confirmed. The actress will once again be playing Claire Redfield, who began playing the role in 2007's Resident Evil Extinction, and came back for Resident Evil: Afterlife. She missed out on 2012's Resident Evil: Retribution, but that can be explained by the fact that she was last seen being kidnapped.

Scottish actor Iain Glen is probably best recognized as the eternally lovesick Jorah Mormont on the hit HBO series Game of Thrones, but he will soon be leaving Westeros behind as he ventures into a different world of horrific undead creatures. Sadly, there’s no information currently available about the character that he will be playing in Resident Evil: The Final Chapter, though one can hope that Paul W.S. Anderson sets him up for the opportunity to actually win the girl.

Famous for being a model and DJ/recording artist in her homeland of Australia, Ruby Rose is only starting to gain a following her in the United States, and signing on for Resident Evil: The Final Chapter is a nice step in that direction. Netflix subscribers likely recognize her for her part as the manipulative Stella Carlin from the third season of Orange is the New Black, but sadly we don’t yet know if this big franchise film will give her the chance to play something radically different.

Now we’ve come to yet another face that fans of the long-running video game movie franchise should recognize. Shawn Roberts has been playing a key role in Resident Evil movies going back to 2010’s Resident Evil: Afterlife - where he made his debut as the villainous Albert Wesker. He is best known as the head of the Umbrella Corporation, but he will be going from antagonist to protagonist in Resident Evil: The Final Chapter, having defected from Umbrella and teamed up with Alice to stop the ultimate evil: the artificially intelligent Red Queen.

Hailing from Ireland, actor Eoin Macken hasn’t created much of a film career just yet, but has become a notable name on American television. After starring in a few episodes of The Tudors, he landed the recurring role of Sir Gwaine in the Merlin series. Most recently he has been starring on the NBC medical comedy/drama The Night Shift. Like most of the other new cast members, we sadly don’t know who he will be playing in Resident Evil: The Final Chapter

Finally, we have the Cuban-born William Levy, who has spent the last decade or so carving out a name for himself on Mexican television. That began to change in 2014 when he landed a part in Tyler Perry’s The Single Moms Club, and has since landed a role in the Vince Vaughn crime drama Term Life. Resident Evil: The Final Chapter should be his biggest project to date, though exactly what he will be doing in the movie is a mystery.

Production on the Paul W.S. Anderson written and directed final sequel is set to commence later this month in South Africa, and production will presumably take a couple of months. After all of the I’s are dotted and the T’s are crossed, we’ll be seeing the finished product in theaters January 27, 2017.

The action genre has been dominated by male actors since it was first created. That’s not to say there aren’t some incredibly awesome male action characters, of course there are. But female action characters tend to be a bit more rare. But, there are always the one’s that stick out--female action characters that to this day we still are talking about, the iconic ones that newer action stars are inspired by. Those are the women that needed their own list.

Lately we’ve seen some awesome female action heroes from Emily Blunt’s Rita in Edge of Tomorrow to Jennifer Lawrence’s Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games. While both are forces to reckon with, they can’t even compare to some of these great female action characters. These are the characters that have held guns, swords, but most of all intelligence. These are the women who are leaders of the action genre itself. And these are the 10 greatest female action characters that you would never want to piss off.

#10 Hanna Heller, Hanna

Saoirse Ronan’s Hanna Heller may be young, but she packs a powerful punch in the 2011 Joe Wright film Hanna. Raised by an ex-CIA operative, the young Hanna was trained in a number of different skill sets from hand-to-hand combat to target shooting. When we first meet Hanna, she is a 15-year-old girl, cold but thoughtful. From the beginning of her story, we can see that she has been a trained killer, but by the end we see how important those qualities are to her survival. Hanna not only is a badass fighter, but her intelligence and carefulness are two of the most interesting aspects of her character, especially considering her young age. Her dedication to the man who raised her, along with the slew of characters she meets in her journey are what made her believable. But as a trained assassin, raised in the wilderness, Hanna Heller is a force to be reckoned with.

#9 Trinity, The Matrix

It’s safe to say Neo would not have gotten too far with out Carlie-Anne Moss’ Trinity by his side in The Matrix movies. The Wachowskis’ sci-fi action trilogy featured a number of kick-ass characters, but the best female badass, Trinity sat high at the top. A computer programmer and hacker, Trinity knew her way around the Matrix and Morpheus’ ship, and though her role in the series is first and foremost to aid Neo in his quest, her skills go far beyond just a romantic counterpart. Trinity’s unique skills range from her use of weapons to operating a range of vehicles and aircrafts. While some of their skills are downloaded from outside of the Matrix, much of Trinity's were trained. She is known famed amongst the hackers for cracking on of the most secure systems in the Matrix to escape. And it’s not only her smarts that get her on this list, but also her crazy combat moves. Trinity’s signature "Double Eagle" move is one of the more memorable of the franchise.

#8 Hit-Girl, Kick-Ass

Another young badass to make the list, Chloë Grace Moretz’s Hit-Girl has skills (and language) far beyond her years. Moretz had dreamed of starring in an action role as she compared to had Angelina Jolie in Wanted, and her role as Hit-Girl couldn’t be a more perfect fit. Though the Kick-Ass franchise focuses on the titular character’s journey to becoming a vigilante, it is Hit-Girl who dominates all of the action scenes. She’s smart, strong, precise, and truly loves take-charge and kicking ass. Oh that and her knives, she really loves her knives. Hit-Girl had all the moves, and at a mere eleven years old, she still could overpower an entire gang of thugs. The initial shock over her age quickly passes when you see how genuinely dangerous this girl is. Raised in an environment where she quickly learned the ways of her vigilante father, and was trained to be just as lethal, Hit-Girl may have missed out on a childhood, but she sure loves fighting the baddies, and we sure love watching her do it.

#7 Lara Croft, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider

Throughout the 2000s, Angelina Jolie was the epitome of an female action superstar. And though plenty of her characters should make this list, Lara Croft is definitely the most iconic baddie to take the prize. Based on the popular video game Angelina Jolie’s Lara Croft was an intensely dedicated action hero who works tirelessly to defeat the Illuminati. Though the films of the Lara Croft: Tomb Raider franchise were not received well, Jolie’s embodiment of the female badass was the only redeeming factor. She is smart, stunning and highly athletic and uses her skills as an archaeologist to help in her collection of the ancient artifacts. And despite some of the negativity surrounding the sexualization of Lara Croft in these films, the character broke down big doors to lead towards more female action roles. Her resourceful ways, and smart tactical skills showed off a powerful female action character that no one wanted to mess with.

#6 Leeloo, The Fifth Element

Leeloo is the most adorable badass to make the list. Milla Jovovich’s breakout role in the 1997 sci-fi action flick The Fifth Element was one of best action films to date (another ranking higher in this list). The supreme being who is a necessary element in preventing the Earth’s ultimate destruction looks cute and completely innocent. She has little social skills or understanding of cultural norms, but you mess with her, and you bet that you will be on your knees begging for mercy. The aspect that made Leeloo such an awesome female badass though, was how fragile she actually was. When you saw her fight, it made jaws-dropped, but she was emotionally vulnerable just like any human. Despite being an alien, she was one of the most relatable characters in the film, which it that much cooler to see her in action. Her fight scenes were top notch, but the depth of her character made her the ultimate female action hero.

#5 Alice, Resident Evil

A former security operative turned resistance fighter Alice is the ultimate female fighter. She’s survived years fighting off zombies as well as those who want to take her down for turning against the Umbrella Corporation. Though Milla Jovovich has made this list with another one of her female action heroes, Resident Evil’s Alice is her own iconic character. Loosely based off the Capcom video games of the same name, the Resident Evil franchise wouldn’t bring in terrific critical reviews, but the character of Alice stands as one of the most iconic female action stars of all time. Jovovich's Alice was an original character created for the films, based on many of the strong women in the Resident Evil games. She is a smart leader, a killer fighter, and dedicated to her cause. Her skills grew even greater as the films progressed, and Alice has become the iconic figure associated with the franchise.

#4 The Bride, Kill Bill

Beatrix Kiddo, known primarily by the name The Bride is not only one of the best female action heroes, but best action heroes, hands down. In true Quentin Tarantino fashion, the two part Kill Bill series features a number of graphic, gut-wrenching battles, but with a cold-faced Uma Thurman portraying the vengeance-seeking protagonist, it makes the fight sequences that much more thrilling. Uma Thurman’s The Bride is scary. It is only till later in her story do we start to sympathize and realize the anger that lingers behind her fight. She doesn’t have to speak too much, which sometimes makes your skin crawl, but in seeing her fight to the finish, we realize how deadly of a force The Bride truly is. She is disciplined and highly trained, but more so than her extremely impressive fighting skills, her deadliest weapon is her focus.

#3 Furiosa, Mad Max: Fury Road

The newest action lady to make this top 10 list also ranks high above some of the rest. Mad Max: Fury Road’s Furiosa is quite the extraordinary female action character. While she drives front and center in the newest Mad Max film, it is her intelligence that makes her an even fiercer warrior. Charlize Theron’s Imperator Furiosa is the lead antagonist’s top imperator and driver. On what is supposed to be a routine supply run, Furiosa goes against the everything she stand for to help save a group of women. On the run, we see how deep her character goes. Not only has she lost one arm (which does not hinder her fighting skills in the slightest) but she also knows what it is to fight for survival. And that’s why she risks everything for these women. So that they can raise their children away from such awful conditions. Furiosa never gives up, and by the end of her journey, she is praised by the people of her land, a true heroine, with a heart of gold and a warrior’s fight.

#2 Sarah Connor, Terminator 2: Judgement Day

There’s been many portrayals of Sarah Connor over the years, and that’s what makes this female action character so iconic. Her story is one that still holds, and her fight is one that we still want to watch over and over again. In the first Terminator film, we didn’t see the Sarah Connor we came to love and respect. Still a damsel in distress, it wasn’t until Terminator 2: Judgement Day that the true badass came out to play. Linda Hamilton's Sarah Connor transformed herself into a ferocious warrior all to protect her son. She may sometimes be a bit violent and mentally unstable, but her behavior all stems in being the greatest protector she can be. She is cautious and careful when it comes to any technology and takes much time in building a relationship with Arnold Schwarzenegger's T-800. But what makes Sarah Connor rank so high on this list, is that she is first and foremost a mother. Her action-heavy role is created because of her concern for her son. And if that’s not the most incredible feat, I don’t know what is.

#1 Ellen Ripley, Alien

There’s really no debating that Alien’s Ellen Ripley sits atop the list of the greatest female action characters. She is the #1 female action character. Portrayed by Sigourney Weaver, Ripley is not only considered an iconic action hero, but also considered one of the best female protagonists of all time. When the first Alien was released in 1979, putting a female at the lead of a science fiction action film was unheard of. And with Weaver behind the role, it would prove to be even more powerful. Weaver earned an Oscar nomination for the role, but more so than anything, Ellen Ripley became an iconic character in cinema. She’s never a sidekick, only a hero. Ridley Scott’s Alien features a highly aggressive extraterrestrial baddie, and Ripley is one of the few smart and savvy enough to survive it. Through the many sequels of the franchise Ripley had many trials and tribulations, but she was always a relatable character that you admired.

Like the vicious creatures in the films themselves, just when you think the Resident Evil franchise is dead and gone, it sits right back up again and drops another movie. Fans can start getting excited now because star Milla Jovovich just delivered your first taste of the latest installment in the action-packed horror saga, Resident Evil: The Final Chapter.

Jovovich shared this photo on Instagram, and as you can clearly see, she’s getting a mold of her face taken, which has always seemed like it would be an unpleasant experience. Uncomfortable special effects necessities aside, Jovovich and her husband, director and franchise mastermind Paul W.S. Anderson, are definitely preparing for some serious "zombie killing."

In fact, production appears to be imminent. Not only is Jovovich going through the prep work, according to the message that accompanies this photo, she is set to depart tomorrow, July 16, for South Africa to get things rolling. That should make fans of the Resident Evil movies quite happy. The fact that it’s the last chapter in the tale of badass monster slayer Alice, not so much, but if nothing else, there’s at least one more movie to come.

Resident Evil 6 was originally supposed to hit theaters last year, in September of 2014, but it was delayed at the last minute due Jovovich’s pregnancy. You probably guessed it’s hard, and dangerous, to perform crazy stunts and wear skintight outfits when you’re carrying a baby. This was after the script took longer to come together than expected, but even though it may have taken the scenic route, it’s still headed to theaters before too long.

With everything apparently rolling along at a nice, even pace, Resident Evil: The Final Chapter should be on track to make its September 2016 release date. At this early stage, we don’t much about what the plot will entail, but so long as it features Milla Jovovich as the amnesiac heroine Alice, heavily armed and kicking all kinds of monster ass, the hardcore fans out there will likely be satisfied.

The films have never been critical darlings—the first two ended up on Roger Ebert’s most hated lists for their respective years—but they’ve all done well financially. The 2002 original earned $102 million globally, while 2004’s Apocalypse earned $129 million, 2007’s Extinction scored $147 million, 2010’s Afterlife gathered a series high $296 million, and Retribution, 2012’s penultimate episode, raked in $240 million. We’ll have to wait and see how The Final Chapter stacks up to its siblings, but the production process is getting started in short order.

Fans of Milla Jovovich may have cause for concern regarding her latest character: The Resident Evil actress is circling a new fantasy-adventure film based on a story by the Game of Thrones mastermind, George R.R. Martin! Will she be able to tell the Literary God of Death, "Not today?" It looks like we shall certainly find out when Jovovich finalizes negations to appear in this new Martin adaptation.

According to a THR report, Jovovich is finalizing a deal that will have her star in the fantasy epic In the Lost Lands. The film is based on a 1982 short story of the same name by Martin, collected in the volume, Amazons II and will supposedly showcase three separate stories about female protagonists set in a romanticized magical, mystical world of warriors, witches, dragons and other various supernatural creatures. In other words, it will certainly be a "Red Wedding" for the actress who has firmly established herself as a go-to star in the action/sci-fi genre. Should the deal be set in stone, she will join already-cast co-star Justin Chatwin (Shameless), and the film will reportedly begin shooting in Germany in the last quarter of 2015.

Occupying the director’s chair will be Constantin Wener, whose last major film was 2009’s The Pagan Queen, a controversy-infused fantasy film about 8th century Central Europe’s pagan culture. While not widely acclaimed across the board (it’s currently sitting at 28% on Rotten Tomatoes), it is an exhibition in the kind of cinematography and outdoor shooting that will prove necessary for this film.

According to Lost Lands' official synopsis (released by studio, Myriad Pictures), Milla Jovovich will play a sorceress named Gray Alys, who finds herself hired to go on what will apparently be a dangerous quest through some bad terrain to obtain a special lycanthropic lore.

It all sounds almost like the kind of archaic fantasy fiction that was running rampant in the 1970s, full of mysticism and a rock-and-roll idealized form of "fur bikinis and swords" sexuality. Seeing as it’s inspired from George R.R. Martin’s writing in the early '80s that’s certainly understandable. However, put the through the contemporary ringer, we might see something different than the novels that male teens of the '70s were digesting while Floyd and Zeppelin spun on the turntable. Namely, it could be a Milla Jovovich action film. We have always seen her in all sorts of hyper-stylized action-adventure romps, laced with ninja-style sword-play as bullets whiz by in slow motion in Woo-esque ways. However, with In the Lost Lands, she will be breaking new ground in her filmography with this quasi-medieval magical action outing.

As of now, no release date has been targeted for In the Lost Lands. However, given that it plans a late 2015 shoot, it will not likely hit theaters any time before summer 2016.

Fourteen years is a long time for anything in life, but doubly so for a franchise of films based off of a wildly popular video game. Much like the games it loosely borrows its name and story from, the Resident Evil movies have fallen upon hard times, with their box office power declining after the fourth entry, Resident Evil: Afterlife. So much like Saw before it, the folks behind the zombie saga's production have decided to pull the plug with Resident Evil: The Final Chapter, and it looks like we finally have info on when this final outing will get off the launchpad.

Through a recent post on her official Facebook page, Milla Jovovich mused about getting ready to give birth to her second child with husband/writer-director of the Resident Evil franchise, Paul W.S. Anderson. Thankfully, part of that message contained the following kernel of information as to when Resident Evil: The Final Chapter would be in front of cameras.

So instead of seeing a new Resident Evil film in the usual "every two or three years, tops" release slot this September, Paul W.S. Anderson and crew will be creating the final entry for all who still show up to the theaters to see a healthy cleansing of the Earth's zombie hordes. The last-minute delay of Resident Evil: The Final Chapter actually made franchise history, as it puts the final film at about a four year delay, with the previous entry, Resident Evil: Retribution, being released in 2012. Considering how much of a nosedive the films took once Anderson stepped back into the picture on 2010's Resident Evil: Afterlife, one would ambitiously think that this longer delay could mean more time to get it right. But as any Resident Evil fan could tell you, Anderson's eight year absence brought him in the completely opposite direction.

Right now, the final installment is looking at a September 2016 release date. With next March marking the 20th anniversary of the first Resident Evil being released on the Playstation, it'd be quite the marketing success if Paul W.S. Anderson could have a trailer for Resident Evil: The Final Chapter completed and ready for release. Considering that Batman v. Superman: Dawn Of Justice is being released around the exact date of the anniversary, you'd have nostalgia and box office clout backing the last entry in Milla Jovovich's zombie killing spree. It's truly the end of an era with Resident Evil's films coming to an end next year. If you're saddened by this turn of events, take comfort in this fact: the original game was remade, so who's to say the movies can't be?

It became pretty clear earlier this summer that Resident Evil 6 - a.k.a. Resident Evil: The Final Chapter - wouldn't be making its announced September 2014 release date. After all, writer/director Paul W.S. Anderson revealed he was still working on the second draft of the script in June. But for those of you who were hoping that the sequel would end up in theaters sometime in 2015, I have some bad news. As you can read in the Facebook message below, production on the film is being delayed due to star Milla Jovovich being pregnant with her second child.

Post by Milla Jovovich.

While it certainly makes sense that Resident Evil: The Final Chapter would have to be put on pause at this point, it's pretty strange how very last minute the delay seems. As the actress mentions in the beginning of her Facebook post, she was just about to get on a plane to Cape Town, South Africa to start working on the movie when she discovered that she was pregnant. What's more, she makes it sounds like crews have been hard at work getting everything ready for the start of filming. It's quite possible if not probable that there is insurance for this kind of thing, but I also must wonder how much money was spent up to this point and how much of the work will still be usable whenever Jovovich is back up on her feet and production can start.

As the title suggests, Resident Evil: The Final Chapter is being planned as the last movie in the long-running video game-adapted franchise. The first film was released all the way back in 2002, and with the exception of the second and third movies, all of the titles have been directed by Paul W.S. Anderson (who wrote every film himself). Historically, the series has never been huge here in the United States - the highest grossing feature, Resident Evil: Afterlife, making only a little over $60 million in its domestic run - but it is absolutely huge overseas. The last two films, Resident Evil Afterlife and Resident Evil: Retribution, made $296 million and $240 million worldwide, respectively. Not having a Resident Evil sequel to put out is going to hurt Screen Gems' global box office profits for 2015.

At this stage we don't know too much about Resident Evil: The Final Chapter's cast outside of Milla Jovovich and Li Bingbing, who will return as Ada Wong, but considering it's the last chapter I suspect that Anderson will try to bring back every character that he can get his hands on (let's not forget that Michelle Rodriguez was in Resident Evil: Retribution after being zombified and killed in the first movie). We can probably expect the movie to now come out in 2016, but we'll let you know when any official news is announced.

With The Expendables and The Expendables 2 pulling in more nearly $574 million worldwide, their maker Millennium Films has been eager to keep this franchise thriving with Expendables 3 as well as a female-fronted spin-off currently known as The ExpendaBelles. Let's ignore the eye roll worthy title for a moment, and move on to the latest news about this proposed picture, namely that Meryl Streep, Cameron Diaz and Milla Jovovich are said to be in talks.

Deadline has been following the development of the project overseas, more specifically in Bulgaria, where Millennium has produced several features, including Expendables 1-3. While overseeing production on Expendables 3 there, Millennium chief Avi Lerner has been loose-lipped about the stars he hopes to land. According to Deadline's translation of a Standart article, Lerner leaked revealed he is in negotiations with these three actresses. However, he also said casting can't be cemented until a director is attached. Then, Lerner offered another surprise, confessing he's hoping to give the gig to a female director. As to who he is eying to helm the script by Legally Blonde scribes Karen McCullah Lutz and Kirsten Smith, Lerner is playing coy.

Avi, might we suggest Lexi Alexander? If you want brilliantly bonkers action, it's hard to beat the Academy Award-nominated director who made the hard-R superhero thriller Punisher: War Zone.

Obviously, for The ExpendaBelles to be a good companion piece to The Expendables, it needs to secure major talent with action chops whose work appeals across generational lines. Jovovich has been a solid onscreen ass-kicker since 1997's The Fifth Element, and pumped up her badass reputation with one after another (after another after another) Resident Evil movies. Though best known for comedies like There's Something About Mary or My Best Friend's Wedding, Diaz has been known to get in on action in the Charlie's Angels movies as well as in the 2010 Tom Cruise espionage comedy Knight and Day. But Meryl Streep? She's the leading lady to whom all others aspire, but is she an action star?

The closest she has come was fronting the white water rafting thriller The River Wild in 1994. But frankly, who cares? She's Meryl Streep. If she wants to wield massive guns or dual-fist with knives (as unlikely as that seems), I'm on board. It's actually exciting to imagine Millennium thinking so outside of the box for a movie that risks being a lazy carbon copy. Still, for Expendables to work the way its pre-established counterpart does, Lerner will have to score some better established action heroines. Basically if Sigourney Weaver, Linda Hamilton, and Uma Thurman aren't getting calls someone is messing this up.

This story sounds like the result of a movie-themed party game, where you fill a hat with names of talented Hollywood players not currently at the top of their game, and then you pick five and make up a movie plot around them. Maybe I’ve stumbled upon some kind of ancient movie producer secret just now. Deadline reports The Raven director James McTeigue’s next project will be the thriller Survivorand it has already locked up Milla Jovovich, Angela Bassett, Emma Thompson and Pierce Brosnan to star in the Millennium Films production. It’ll be the first feature written by novelist Phil Shelby. Let’s hope the sum of the film is equaled to its quality parts.

For Survivor, Jovovich will be playing a State Department employee working a new position in London’s American embassy, tasked with diverting terrorists from making it to the U.S. For this, she becomes targeted by someone and framed for a series of crimes. She then has to go on the run to try and prove her innocence, on top of trying to stop a huge terrorist attack in Times Square on New Year’s Eve. There’s no word on what any of the other cast members will be doing here, but it would be nice to see either Bassett or Thompson playing the evildoer in this situation, rather than the stereotypical foreign villain. Regardless of who gets chosen, I can only hope the only person seriously injured in the film will be Ryan Seacrest, hosting New Year’s Rockin’ Eve.

McTeigue, who also helmed 2009’s Ninja Assassin and 2005’s V for Vendetta, is planning on rebooting the Jean-Claude Van Damme’s fighting flick Bloodsport at some point, but it looks like Survivor is coming along a lot quicker.

Jovovich, who has built a career out of her Alice role in the Resident Evil franchise, is currently filming the all-star action fest The Expendables 3 for Patrick Hughes, and Michael Almereyda’s adaptation of Shakespeare’s Cymbeline.

Staring Wednesday, October 8, you can see Bassett as voodoo queen Marie Laveau in what is hopefully her juiciest role in years for FX’s American Horror Story: Coven. She’ll also be seen in Kasi Lemmons holiday drama Black Nativity and Greg Araki’s disappearance thriller White Bird in a Blizzard.

Oscar winner Thompson recently starred in the YA adaptation Beautiful Creatures and Joel Hopkins’ comedy Love Punch (which also starred Brosnan). She’ll also be starring as author P.L. Travers in the Walt Disney-centered Saving Mr. Banks, as well as starring in Richard Laxton’s historical drama Effie Gray, which she also wrote. She also penned the upcoming adaptations of Paddington and Annie.

Brosnan, who had a great bit part in Edgar Wright’s The World’s End a few months ago, will be seen next year in the Nick Hornby adaptation A Long Way Down from Pascal Chaumeil, and the Roger Donaldson thriller November Man.

Originally set to star Clive Owen and Katherine Heigl, Survivor is set to begin production in London on January 20, 2014.

The Expendables franchise is all about getting bigger and bigger with each installment. When the first film came out in 2010 he brought together amazing action stars like Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis, Dolph Lundgren, Jason Statham and more, but they upped the ante in 2012 with Expendables 2, which also added Jean-Claude Van Damme, Chuck Norris, and Scott Adkins into the mix. So where do you go from there?

The answer is to add Jackie Chan, Wesley Snipes, Nicolas Cage and Milla Jovovich. According to Deadline, Lionsgate is now in active negotiations with all four stars to join the cast of The Expendables 3. While Chan, Snipes and Cage have all been rumored for possible roles in the film for months, this is actually the first time that we've heard about Jovovich's possible involvement. She would be the second actress to join the gang of killer mercenaries after Chinese actress Nan Yu starred in the second film. As we reported in late April, Stallone has hired Red Hill director Patrick Hughes to direct the project and Stallone is currently working on the script himself.

All four actors have plenty of action genre cred that should help the four new stars fit in quite well with the rest of the ensemble cast. The question that remains, however, is how the four characters will be used. I'd personally want to see Chan, Snipes and Jovovich join up with the good guys and then cast Cage as a ridiculously over-the-top bad guy with plans for world domination. But what do you think?

While some fans clamor for a trilogy’s finale because their anticipation for the film has reached its unbearable apex, others are anxiously waiting for that franchise to be completely eradicated from the daily entertainment headlines. The Resident Evil franchise is the perfect example of both of these polarized viewpoints - though considering it’s nearing the end of its second trilogy, the voice of the naysayers are echoing loudly through the halls of the Umbrella Corporation and nobody seems to be listening.

Even though there’s almost no certifiable information about the project, a sixth Resident Evil film already has a release date set, giving fans and haters alike at least another year and a half to look forward to/dread yet another one of these action-horror romps. Shock Till You Drop reports the sixth entry in this franchise will see a tentative nationwide release of September 12, 2014, serving as the tepid coffee at the end of a hearty meal of summer blockbusters. No title. No casting, beyond Milla Jovovich’s automatic appearance. Just the fever dream that is Paul W.S. Anderson’s imagination, and the assumption that it will somehow follow the events of Resident Evil: Retribution, which left Alice and Wesker at the White House with all forms of shit soon hitting the fan.

If the film will see a release next September, that would mean that Anderson would be shooting for a filming schedule to start up this fall at the latest. Considering the recent news about Emily Browning joining Anderson’s long-gestating disaster flick Pompeii, it’s unclear what happens now. It doesn’t seem likely the big budget volcano epic – and that term is used very lightly – will see its entire production happen in the next six months, so expect some project shuffling from Paul W.S. Anderson in the near future.

What would cause a promising student from an affluent family to shoot himself before the crowds of Moscow's Alexander Gardens? This is the question posed to Erast Fandorin, a young, charming and untested member of the Criminal Investigation Division of the St. Petersburg Police. His winding investigation set in 1876 Russia is the driving force of Boris Akunin's internationally best-selling detective novel The Winter Queen, which is on its way to being a star-studded mystery movie.

Coming Soon reveals Seven Arts Entertainment has not only secured Resident Evil star Milla Jovovich to headline, but also has scored Anjelica Huston, who most recently won acclaim for her part in the cancer dramedy 50/50, and David Thewlis, who is best known as Professor Remus Lupin of the Harry Potter franchise. Jovovich is slated to play Lady Amalia Bezhetskaya, a gorgeous femme fatale. Huston will portray Lady Astair, an English noblewoman who runs the Astair House, a branch of schools for orphan boys, while Thewlis will play Count Zurov, an Army officer and associate of Lady Amalia. At this time, there is no word yet on who will play the protagonist, Fandorin.

The Winter Queen marks the English-language debut of Russian actor turned director Fedor Bondarchuk, who has previously helmed the sci-fi action-adventures Obitaemyy ostrov, and Obitaemyy ostrov. Skhvatka. Bondarchuk's latest film, the recently wrapped World War II drama Stalingrad is expected to hit theaters this year. Production on The Winter Queen will begin in April.

The Game of Thrones panel left Hall H in tatters. It’s up to Resident Evil: Retribution to sweep up the pieces and re-energize this San Diego Comic Con crowd with the promise of zombies, guns and Milla Jovovich in skin-tight leather.

Speaking of, Jovovich is about to preside over a Retribution panel with husband/director Paul W.S. Anderson, Michelle Rodriguez, Oded Fehr, Boris Kodjoe and Mika Nakashima. They’re promising never-before-seen footage, possible details on Alice’s past, and the plan to conclude this cult horror franchise … soon. Let’s panel!

4:02 We are handed 3D glasses on the way in to Hall H. The promise/threat of Michelle Rodriguez in 3D is stimulating/terrifying.

4:09 Panel's a little late, but we're being told there will be footage cut just for us!

4:10 Footage is coming up. Paul W.S. Anderson is up first. Smattering of applause.

4:11 Anderson says it was time to "make the franchise much bigger." Says the franchise is "reaching a climax" and this one needed to be "epic." They shot in Moscow, Tokyo, Washington D.C., where they destroyed (a model of) the White House. Cool.

4:17 Had to shut down so we could see the trailer! It was a 3D cut of the trailer we most recently saw. Resident Evil goes global. Now the cast is reaching the stage.

4:18 Michelle Rodriguez gets as big a reception as Milla Jovovich. Understandable.

4:19 "What's up?!?!" Jovovich screams at the fans! She says she gets to play a normal person in the movie for a short amount of time, which made her feel like more of a superhero once she was able to switch back into butt-kicking mode.

4:20 More footage! Hold on.

4:23 They just showed us two minutes of footage from the nine-minute fight that concludes the film. It's set on a glacier (I believe), and it's the best slo-mo, heavy metal video I've seen today. The cast, seeing it for the first time in 3D, is visibly pumped by the footage. And rightfully so. Rodriguez's character spits bullets OUT OF HER FINGERTIPS!

4:24 Fehr says his return to the franchise was "somewhat unexpected, mainly because I died in the third movie."

4:25 Rodriguez loves Jovovich. And she loves the franchise. She thanks Anderson for shooting her in the head and bringing her back into the fold. Japanese pop star Mika Nakashima doesn't speak English. But she's adorable.

4:27 An Asian Buzz Lightyear kicks off the fan questions by asking Rodriguez if she'll sleep with him. Fans boo, but this inane question triggers a fantastic story by Rodriguez that involves drugs, masturbation, and a sword Sam Jackson gave her from S.W.A.T. It was awesome.

4:27 A nervous guy this time asks the ladies how much they bench press. Creepy. Rodriguez says she "gyrates a lot." Men in the audience get sweaty. She clarifies that she meant dancing.

4:29 Rodriguez name-drops Girl Fight. Karyn Kusama fans woot.

4:33 A nervous lady asks Rodriguez about being "the queen of resurrection" by talking about her return to Fast and Furious. Also asks if she'll come back to Avatar, but Rodriguez professionally defers by talking around the answer.

4:34 Anderson admits that this feels like the beginning of the end of the franchise, and he says that a lot of people will die in this movie as they start to bring the series to a close. "No one's really safe in this movie." Jovovich says that she and Anderson have talked about the end of the story in their home. But the conversations end with them throwing items at each other. "In 3D," Jovovich jokes. Then she says that she does know what's going to happen in the end. "I'm married to the guy! You think I don't know?!"

4:36 Rodriguez rightfully calls Jovovich out, saying that was "a cop out" and that she "thought you were going to give us something juicy!" She still doesn't.

4:40 Rodriguez just referenced Snoop Dogg on Larry King as a roundabout way of talking about marijuana.

And that's how we're concluding the Resident Evil panel, which largely showed us the trailer and the start of what could be a massive fight sequence. Anderson swears that the fight we saw stretches on at least nine minutes. Want to learn more? Follow the hashtag #residentevil. On to Son'y official panel, which means Total Recall!

Paul W.S. Anderson and Milla Jovovich reunite on the fifth installment of the blockbuster Resident Evil franchise, Resident Evil: Retribution, bringing forth another zombie-laden horror-thriller centered on the remarkably resilient security officer turned zombie slayer, Alice. In the first film, Alice was betrayed by the evil Umbrella Corporation, who wiped her memories and buried her deep in the bowels of their genetic research facility, where she had to battle hordes of gruesome mutations to survive.

In Resident Evil: Apocalypse, the viral infection from the first film hits Raccoon City hard, turning its residents into monsters. Waking from a coma, Alice soon discovers Umbrella plans to not only quarantine the city, but also incinerate it and all those within its walls. Though Alice once more escapes destruction, and she does so with new super human abilities, which come in handy in Resident Evil: Extinction, where she is forced to face off against a new onslaught of Umbrella forces that includes her own clones.

Finally, came Resident Evil: Afterlife, where Alice and her clones join forces to topple Umbrella. In this battle, Alice not only loses her doppelgangers, but also her superpowers. The last we saw this scrappy survivor, she was calling upon all those who have so far survived Umbrella's carnage to unite, providing a solid launch point for the franchise's next adventure, which now at long last has a full trailer, viewable below, courtesy of the flick's Facebook page.

The trailer was unveiled after a live-chat with the film's star, and aside from the dizzying action displayed above, Jovovich promises so much more, assuring the excited crowd assembled in New York:

She also revealed that if Anderson has his druthers, there will be at least one more film with Alice. From there, Jovovich suggested that the franchise could live on without her or Anderson, which caused cries of dismay from the audience. To which Jovovich winsomely laughed, "Momma needs a rest!"

Speaking on the passion she and Anderson—who is also her husband—share for the franchise, and she explained their drive to "up the ante," teasing, "This opening sequence is crazy, and I'll give you a hint: it's all played backwards!"

Look forward to that and so much more when Resident Evil: Retribution hits theaters September 14th. For more on the film, check our Blend Film Database.

For those of us who have been fans of the Resident Evil video games since way back when the first one was released in 1996, it’s been a huge disappointment to see all these film adaptations roll through and not see one single appearance of Leon Kennedy, star of the Resident Evil 2 video game. His RE2 costar Claire Redfield appeared in both the third and fourth films played by Ali Larter, but Kennedy has sadly been passed over. Until now.

We learned last month that Johann Urb, Oded Fehr, and Kevin Durand were added to the cast list, but it is clear now that Urb will don the wavy hair of the Racoon City police officer Leon Kennedy. Of course, where they’ve taken the series as a film franchise is nowhere near what the video games were trying to achieve so Leon will likely have a different role to play here in Resident Evil: Retribution, the fifth in the RE series.

Production is currently underway on Retribution now that director Paul W.S. Anderson and his wife/star Milla Jovovich are done with promotions for The Three Musketeers. Snatched up by Shock Til You Drop, Jovovich has tweeted a picture of her “attacked by zombies” makeup, but more interestingly she’s posted a quick video of Urb and returning Boris Kodjoe, showing off Leon and Luther holding big guns. Check them out below.

Urb seems to being looking like a bit more rugged version of Leon, who came across as a bit of a pretty boy in the games. But nonetheless, knowing that he’ll be in this movie may finally bring a little bit of credibility to the franchise that has become a bit of a joke over the years. Retribution will be filming until around Christmas and will hit theaters next September.

While the movie didn't screen early for critics, Paul W.S. Anderson's The Three Musketeers opened at midnight last night and some reviewers bought tickets so that they could publish an opinion on the movie today. The result has been overwhelmingly negative, our own Katey Rich calling it, "the rare movie that's so dumb it's impossible to understand" (expect her full review later today). If the studio promoting the movie, Summit Entertainment, knew that they had a dud on their hands it's understandable that they wouldn't go out of their way to promote it with full force, but now one of the film's stars is calling them out for it.

Milla Jovovich, who not only stars in the film as Milady de Winter but is married to the director, recently took to her Twitter account to call out the studio for their lack of promotion. The actress started by calling out to fans asking if people actually knew about the film, but then brought down the hammer. "Are 'summit' promoting it as a family adventure movie?" Jovovich asked. "Or are they resting on their laurels from "twilight" n making no effort? Let me know!" She then continued her comments about the company, admonishing them for sweeping the movie "under the rug" and saying, "Shame on them. SHAME ON YOU 'SUMMIT'."

It's worth noting that The Three Musketeers is already out in many international markets (premiering in some territories as early as September 1st) and has already made $50 million overseas on an estimated $75 million budget. The question is where things go from here. Is this going to be a small moment of outrage and anger that will just go away, or can we expect a lawsuit to be announced in the coming weeks? A lot of that could depend on the movie's performance this weekend - where it's going up against Halloween power-house Paranormal Activity 3 - so we'll just have to wait and see.

It's never funny when people are injured on a movie set, doing their jobs in the name of making some entertainment for the masses, but it's hard to resist when the people injured are 16 extras dressed up in full zombie makeup. I mean, the possibilities for confusion are endless-- is that an actual broken bone or a prop one sticking out of your leg? How do you tell the difference between fake and real blood?

Luckily none of the injuries sustained by the extras on the Toronto set of Resident Evil: Retribution were life-threatening, according to TMZ, so it's not quite as tasteless to make the zombie jokes. But still, these were real people, not the undead, and they really did get hurt, including some broken bones, back injuries and general arm and leg pain. The accident occurred when the actors were placed on a set with wheels that suddenly moved, sending them falling a terrifying 20 feet to the ground. It's unclear which scene was being shot, but given that all of the Resident Evil movies involve packs of zombies in one form or another, you can pretty much guess "any of them."

The Toronto Police Department and the MInistry of Labor are investigating the accident, presumably to figure out if any of the crew members were doing their jobs correctly, but there's no word on whether or not this will slow down production on the film, which is set for release on September 14 next year. The film stars Milla Jovovich, as always in the lead role of Alice, along with Michelle Rodrgiuez, Sienna Guillory, Colin Salmon, Shawn Roberts, Boris Kodjoe, Oded Fehr, Johann Urb and Kevin Durand. Paul W.S. Anderson is also back as a writer and director.

Just because I’ve never heard of the medical term “prosopagnosia,” or “face blindness,” doesn’t mean I can’t dig on the unnerving new international trailer for Julien Magnat’s thriller Faces in the Crowd.

The film stars Milla Jovovich as an elementary school teacher who’s suffering a rare case of facial amnesia following a brutal encounter with a serial killer. “She’s the only one who’s seen him, yet she can’t recognize anybody?” an exasperated police officer asks. Now that’s delicious irony. First Look Studios dropped the film’s full trailer, which we’ve posted below (via ShockTilYouDrop):

The film seems to have as many cheap horror thrills as it does suspenseful, police-procedural elements (stick around until the very end of the clip to see what I mean). Yet Jovovich has shown over the years that she’s perfectly comfortable in either genre, and tends to lean more toward sci-fi and horror when given the option. Magnat, directing from his own screenplay, has mostly television shows on his resume. He has lured Michael Shanks and Julian McMahon of the face-salshing, serial-killing Nip/Tuck to this production. Let’s hear it for typecasting!

Faces in the Crowd is expected to hit theaters later this year.

The first trailer for The Three Musketeers was a little confusing, even for a Paul W.S. Anderson movie. That trailer didn’t seem to be so much about the Musketeers we’ve come to know and love after their dozens of different film incarnations (I guess they’re in some book too), it seemed to be mostly about Milla Jovovich doing sweet Matrix moves. Didn’t know Resident Evil’s Alice was a Musketeer? The new trailer does a better job of explaining where all her kung fu fits into the picture.

Watch the newest trailer for The Three Musketeers below.

So now we know not only why Milla is in this movie, but also why she knows Kung Fu. Apparently she’s the world’s deadliest assassin. If this goes well, maybe she’ll eventually be hired by Dr. Evil the next time he needs to gather a bunch of world’s deadliest assassins together for a group potluck.

For now it looks like somewhere along the way Milla's assassin character may actually team up with the Musketeers... which is weird. I guess someone thought this movie needed a female character? Michael Bay doesn't seem to have to worry about these sorts of gender issues when making his Transformers movies, why should Paul W.S. Anderson? Oh yeah, probably because he's married to Milla Jovovich. We married men have all been there Paul. We get it.

The De Niro of Goodfellas and the Untouchables, of Raging Bull and Once Upon a Time in America, has made way for the De Niro of Little Fockers and the B-movie-that-knew-it-was-a-B-movie, Machete. His newest DVD release is Stone, a psychological thriller that features Edward Norton and the forever-great-looking Milla Jovovich, whose costumes in this film, unfortunately, are less form fitting than those she wore in The Fifth Element. All actor-jabbing aside, Overture Films and Anchor Bay will release Stone on Blu-Ray and DVD on January 18th.

Stone was directed by John Curran, the same guy who created and cast Edward Norton in The Painted Veil. While not known for being the biggest box office success, John Curran’s recent endeavor only made back a little over $8 million worldwide toward its $22 million production budget, and thus has a long way to go to financially recover. If you were in the group that did see and enjoy the film, both the DVD and Blu-Ray will feature the theatrical trailer for the film and a featurette about how Stone was created.

It was surprising to hear earlier today that Abe Sylvia's Dirty Girl had been picked up for distribution by the Weinstein Company, not only because several more significant films (like Robert Redford's The Conspirator) remain homeless, but because the company paid a cool $3 million for the rights. The road trip comedy about a high school skank and an overweight gay kid wasn't all that prominent on anyone's radar, so I felt compelled to catch it at today's press screening and see what all the fuss was about.

Now I know Harvey and Bob Weinstein have championed some bizarre and doomed films over the years, but I cannot fathom why they paid more than a few nickels for Dirty Girl, an incredibly uneven and mean-spirited excuse for a comedy that wears out its welcome long before it veers sharply toward sentimentality in the third act. Up-and-comer Juno Temple works fruitlessly hard as the utterly unlikeable lead character Danielle, a self-proclaimed high school slut who, wouldn't you know it, is just looking for the love of the father she's never known. Not much better is newcomer Jeremy Dozier as Clarke, shy and closeted and not callow like Danielle, but so pathetic and uninteresting that he's almost worse.

Set in the late 80s for no reason other than to deck out Temple in lavish blue eyeshadow, Dirty Girl is one of those movies that asks you to laugh at how stupid or sad or slutty its characters are before flipping it around with an "everyone is worthwhile" message at the end. Danielle and Clarke meet in a Special Ed program foolishly called Challengers ("The Challenger crashed!" Danielle bitchily tells the school principal), where they are assigned as "parents" to a bag of flour as an exercise about parental responsibility. When Danielle decides to take a road trip to meet her father for the first time in Fresno, both Clarke and the bag of flour come along, both as an obvious symbol about the importance of parents and a cutesy icon destined for the poster, changing facial expressions to suit each scene's mood.

Meanwhile Clarke's homophobic jerk of a dad (Dwight Yoakam, of all people) is on their tail, as are Clarke's prim mom (Mary Steenburgen) and Danielle's mom (Milla Jovovich) too. Somewhere back at home is Danielle's Mormon stepdad-to-be (William H. Macy), and waiting at the end of the road is her dad played Tim McGraw, who actually gives one of the film's better performance simply because he doesn't seem to be trying to so damn hard. Everyone else, whether the unconvincingly harsh Temple or the wasted Steenburgen, is marooned in the cliched coming-of-age script, which is peppered with a lot of gay jokes and slut jokes that don't make it edgy but terribly mean. It's one problem that the audience doesn't like any of the characters-- and really, aside from rote moments of "humanity" and "vulnerability," there's nothing to like here-- but Sylvia doesn't seem to care about them all that much either.

Especially with the terrific Easy A playing at the festival, with its open embrace of teen female sexuality and gay identity, Dirty Girl feels particularly out of place, an attempt at being edgy and raw that instead beaches itself on that border between irony and actual storytelling. Far be it from me to underestimate the Weinsteins and the marketing genius, but even with relatively big names on board Dirty Girl is all kinds of a tough sell. If it hadn't already been picked up I would breezily predict you'd never hear from this film again after TIFF, but unfortunately for all of us, it's coming back sooner or later. You've been warned.

More Cinema Blend coverage from the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival right here.

If you’ve seen the trailers for Resident Evil: Afterlife the answer to the question “how much of this movie was computer generated?” may surprise you. Since it was filmed entirely 3D and computer generated images are easier and cheaper to make work in the format, and since let’s face it, Hollywood rarely seems interested in putting the effort into practical effects anymore, you’ve probably already assumed the entire thing was filmed with Milla Jovovich sitting on a pair of green egg crates while stunt men in green unitards threw green tennis balls at her. If so, you would be spectacularly wrong.

In fact it would seem that they actually went through a great deal of trouble to build as many real sets and do as many real makeup effects for Resident Evil: Afterlife as possible. The proof is in ten minutes of completely uncut video taken from the set, embedded in the two videos below. Click play and you’ll get a unique and candid look at how some of the movie’s biggest scenes were filmed. Watch:

The airplane sequence? They actually built an airplane, stuck Milla Jovovich in it, and sent it rocketing down a runway set. Zombie dogs? They got real Dobermans and hired real, talented makeup effects artists to paint them up like they’d just been spat out of hell. Another movie, a lazier movie, some of them starring Milla Jovovich, would have CGI’d all of that. Resident Evil: Afterlife opted to build it, to paint it, to make something tangible in the hopes that it’ll give the audience something to latch on to. Say what you want about the RE franchise, but they at least deserve praise for that.

For comparison, these are completed versions of four scenes. Here’s how the finished product came out:

For one final proof that, maybe, Resident Evil: Afterlife might actually know what it’s doing, I offer the following featurette. Watch:

In the above vid, when Milla Jovovich talks about how good the script is, you probably rolled your eyes. Rightfully so. But when she talks about what it’s like when they’re on set “immersed in the world”, that was worth paying attention to. You don’t get that with endless walls of green screen. Or later in the video, when Ali Larter talks about how important the physicality of the film is to her performance, to me that seems like a big bullet point. It's something which directors like George Lucas, who don’t bother building sets when CGI will do, who don’t bother with live dogs when a CGI one can be dragged out of some photoshop library, never seem to get. Apparently Paul W.S. Anderson, of all people, does.

He still uses plenty of green screen and you just heard them talking about that too… but it’s in conjunction with physical sets and props and makeup, as much as they can build or slather on, to give the actors and the audience something real to latch on to. And that’s cool.

When you have two actors the caliber of Edward Norton and Robert DeNiro in your film, you can't be blamed for wanting to put them at the top of your marketing. They are two incredibly talented individuals who have spent years making their mark in the movie world. At the same time, however, you don't want to do it in a way that will shame their co-stars. The first poster for Stone fails miserably in that aspect.

JoBlo has posted the first one-sheet for the film, and it's a nice big slap in the face to Milla Jovovich. Sure, her face is placed in between those of DeNiro and Norton, but what's the deal with pushing her name all the way down to the bottom? Were they concerned that people would think the name of the movie is Stone Milla Jovovich? Even the actresses face is pushed further into the background than the male stars. It's all pretty insulting.

Check out the poster below or in full-resolution over at JoBlo.

What do you get when you put together a corn-rowed inmate in Edward Norton, Milla Jovovich as a shy seductress and Robert DeNiro pretty much playing himself as a parole officer? You get Stone, the next movie from director John Curran (We Don’t Live Here Anymore).

Norton plays Stone, an inmate convicted of arson who meets with his PO Jack Maybury in an effort to get back out on the streets. As the trailer shows us, Maybury is weeks away from retirement (convenient) but wants to see his caseload through to the finish (also convenient). He’s a religious do-gooder afterall. Stone’s plan is to sick his wife (Jovovich) on Maybury in an effort to secure a parole in the form of mind games and blackmail. And from the trailer, it looks like one big boring mess of talking, DeNiro feeling bad, Jovovich being sexy and then feeling bad, and finally Norton being sinister, talking in a funny accent and not feeling bad all set to deep dark music.

When you line up a cast like this, there’s a certain expectation level. While a trailer never tells the whole story, it should at least make the viewer want to know the rest of the details especially the whole premise appears to be built on intrigue and psychological warfare. Stone’s trailer fails in that respect because in two minutes I’d seen the whole movie. And on that note, check out the trailer for Stone below or in HD on Yahoo.