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SDCC Interview: Wentworth Miller Gets Schooled in Resident Evil


Source: Peter Brown
July 27, 2010


Wentworth Miller had never played the Resident Evil games or even watched the Resident Evil movies until he was cast to play Chris Redfield in the upcoming Resident Evil: Afterlife film, opening in theaters on September 10.

However, Miller told Shock at an Afterlife press event at Comic-Con 2010 that he caught up pretty quickly, especially after he learned just how important Chris Redfield is to the franchise as a whole.

"I wanted to do my research and what the fan expectation might be and respect what was already out there in terms of the mythology," Miller said. "So there was a lot of research online and going to fan sites, so I had to educate myself. [The character] has to make sense as a whole and not as a standalone part. This thing is far down the track and the job I have is to jump on and become a seamless part of this larger whole."

His education also included getting a montage from the producers of the significant events in Redfield's life in the video games that related to the character's personal history and where he came from.

"I was struck by watching how in the early games Chris was bright eyed and bushy tailed he seemed to a degree," Miller said. "Definitely someone that was at the start of a horrific journey. When you meet him in the movie, he is many miles down that road. He is a different person with a different vibe to him. I think there is a lot more edge, a lot more darkness. It is nice to see the balance with the sibling dynamic because Clare's presence brings out a bit more tender and vulnerable that otherwise might be rock hard as the character of Alice."

The Redfield reunion is something that Miller says will bring something new to the table in the franchise, something that will be easily identifiable with the audience.

"The movie has zombies and special effects up the whazzo, it is an amazing fireworks display, but at the same time if you don't care about the characters it doesn't really resonate," he said. "So it was important to flesh out the story and the characters and relationships between the characters to give extra weight to the special effects smorgasbord."

That relationship and the smorgasbord of special effects collide in the tango between Chris, Clare and Wesker toward the end of the movie, which is a scene straight out of one of the Resident Evil video games.

"It was difficult and complex to choreograph because you have three people going at it at the same time but really satisfying to shoot and I hope one of the highlights of the movie," Miller said.

As far as learning about what happened to Chris up until this point in the movie, we may not see much of the background – something many fans have been wondering about given Redfield's important role he plays in the games. "We tell you what we need to know. But most of these characters it is about the present tense and what is around the next corner as opposed to constantly looking over your shoulder. It isn't about long dramatic monologues and characters showing their inner most thoughts. But you do want to layer in a degree of that so when these characters are in jeopardy it actually registers with the audience from the neck down opposed to the neck up."

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Comments

Posted by: djblack1313 on July 27, 2010 at 19:34:30

very cool! i have no doubts that Went will make a great Chris!

Posted by: Outlander on July 27, 2010 at 19:59:36

September 20??? don´t you mean September 10??? :P

Posted by: Thunder on July 27, 2010 at 21:43:27

He's gonna do a great job as Chris. So excited for this movie.

Posted by: chris on July 27, 2010 at 23:21:46

i cant wait either, to watch the remake thats more like the first game,and not watch this one.

Posted by: Troll on July 28, 2010 at 00:01:32

I hate the Resident Evil movies, I strongly dislike Milla jovovich and Paul w.s anderson should pulled out of his mansion with a mob and lynched. horrible writer/directors suceeding needs to stop.
(bay/devlin/w.s anderson/schumacher/bruckhiemer)


smarten up you big ..... stupids.

Posted by: Aezeikiel on July 28, 2010 at 00:14:54

Agreed with you Troll.

I really hate Bay and Anderson.

Posted by: heba on July 28, 2010 at 03:47:28

He's so smart & cute in his interviews.His words r very charming just like his look.
I don't like this kind of movies but I'll just watch it to see my adorable actor Wentworth.
He'll be awesome as Chris as he's in anything else.He's super gorgeous super talented.
Best wishes for him in this movie & another projects

Posted by: Troll on July 28, 2010 at 10:42:13

@heba
this terrible RE franchise is what is known as "bottom of the barrel" if the actors in these movies careers get any worse they literally will be waiting tables. they will be be back if theres another ****ty RE movie, if not you can be sure to find wentworth waiting tables somewhere in the hollywood area.
ill be serious for a minute here awell, no real director will ever touch an actor whos been in movies as bad as RE or worked with WS Anderson,(half the PR for predators was about how it has absolutly had nothing to do with AVP, which he made very poorly)(even fox, the biggest idiots in the buiz have dissed anderson for that) RE almost halts any chance of their career going in a positive direction. they are just circling the toilet like a bunch of cochroaches.

its time to flush that toilet. stop supporting inferior movies, I beg you "mass audience"
you made the sorcerers apprentice a flop and inception suceed, that means you have brains ! keep using them. kill this franchise. please.

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