Inspired by the immensely popular video game series of the same name, Netflix’s Resident Evil live-action series has been cancelled a little over a month and a half after its debut reportedly due to lacklustre reception and viewership.
According to the weekly Netflix Top 10 rankings issued by the streaming service, in its debut week Resident Evil was streamed over 72 million hours, making it the number two program of the week (behind only Stranger Things Season 4 with 102 million hours). In its second
week, the show slumped to number three, and by its fourth week, it was out of the top 10 altogether.
The short-lived series, set 14 years after the outbreak of a deadly virus follows Jade Wesker’s (Ella Balinska) fight for survival during the ensuing global apocalypse as she attempts to traverse a world conquered by the infected. During this mayhem, Jade seeks to
uncover the true extent of her father’s (Lance Reddick) connection with the Umbrella Corporation, and learn what happened to her sister, Billie (Siena Agudong).
Additional cast members included: Tamara Smart, Adeline Rudolph, Paola Nuñez, Ahad Raza Mir, Connor Gosatti and Turlough Convery.
First released in 1996, Resident Evil has become one of the bestselling and most influential video game series ever created. The series has been adapted into most popular entertainment media ‒ It holds the Guinness World Record for the “Most Live-Action Film
Adaptations of a Video Game” with a total of seven. Furthermore, it has been adapted into animated films, comic books, novels, and plays, as well as animated and live-action TV series.
Despite numerous Resident Evil adaptations disappointing viewers, this latest incarnation of Capcom’s most successful intellectual property was received especially poorly by critics and audiences, with scores on Rotten Tomatoes of 55% (from critics) and 27% (from audiences).
Words by Luke Horwitz
Support The Indiependent
We’re trying to raise £200 a month to help cover our operational costs. This includes our ‘Writer of the Month’ awards, where we recognise the amazing work produced by our contributor team. If you’ve enjoyed reading our site, we’d really appreciate it if you could donate to The Indiependent. Whether you can give £1 or £10, you’d be making a huge difference to our small team.
It’s a shame to see Netflix’s ‘Resident Evil’ series get the axe after just one season. It had so much potential with its unique take on the franchise, and the characters were starting to develop nicely. I was really looking forward to seeing where they would take the story. Hopefully, they revisit this universe in the future with a stronger concept!
I’m really disappointed to hear about the cancellation of Netflix’s ‘Resident Evil’ series. I thought it had a unique take on the franchise with some intriguing character development. It’s frustrating when shows don’t get a chance to grow and explore their potential. I really hope we see more adaptations that respect the source material in the future!
I’m really disappointed to hear that Netflix’s ‘Resident Evil’ series has been canceled after just one season. I thought it had some intriguing elements and a unique take on the franchise. It feels like there’s so much potential left untapped! I hope Netflix considers reviving it or at least exploring other adaptations down the line.
I’m really disappointed to see Netflix’s ‘Resident Evil’ get canceled. I thought they brought a fresh perspective to the franchise, and the characters had so much potential. It’s a shame we won’t get to see where the story could have gone. What a missed opportunity!
It’s a real shame to see Netflix’s ‘Resident Evil’ series get cancelled after just one season. I was genuinely excited about the direction they were taking, and it had some interesting elements that could have been further explored. Hopefully, they’ll consider bringing it back or giving us something new within the franchise!
It’s disappointing to see Netflix’s ‘Resident Evil’ series getting cancelled after just one season. There was so much potential for character development and world-building, and I was hoping to see where the story would lead. I guess fans of the franchise will have to look forward to other adaptations.
It’s such a disappointment to see Netflix’s ‘Resident Evil’ get canceled after just one season. There was so much potential in the story and characters, and I really thought it would find its footing. The mix of horror and action had me excited for more. What a missed opportunity!
It’s such a disappointment to see Netflix’s ‘Resident Evil’ get canceled after just one season. The potential for exploring the franchise in a new light was huge, and I felt they were just starting to delve into some interesting storylines. I really hope they reconsider or at least explore what works in future adaptations.
I’m really disappointed to hear that Netflix’s ‘Resident Evil’ series was cancelled after just one season. I was hoping for more depth and character development, especially given the franchise’s rich history. It felt like they were just starting to explore some interesting themes. Hopefully, this won’t be the end of adaptations for such an iconic series!