Netflix has announced that Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness will officially premiere on the streaming service this July. In addition to narrowing the release window for the upcoming CG animated horror series, which is based on the popular video game franchise of the same name, Netflix also shared the director and music composer.
Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness is directed by Eiichiro Hasumi, the critically-acclaimed director behind some of Japan's biggest live-action hits, including the Umizaru and Mozu series. Hasumi is primarily known for his work in live-action, and his work on Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness will be his first time directing a 3DCG series. When asked about his experience on the project, Hasumi stated:
Being involved in a work with such a long history and so many fans gave me more joy than it did pressure. I was supported by the amazing staff during my first attempt at a full CG anime. I am so appreciative of their efforts and truly feel that they dragged me across the finish line. While this is a full CG anime, I strove to adjust the camerawork and lighting atmosphere to resemble the live-action filming I usually do to instill this work with a sense of realism. Since the characters are loved by many people, we ensured that our depiction of them does not betray the fans’ expectations. It was also reassuring that the motion capture actors and voice actors were the cast that play Leon and Claire.
Hasumi was referring to Nick Apostolides and Stephanie Panisello, who will be voicing Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield, respectively, in the English-language version of the show. Both actors previously voiced the characters in 2019's Resident Evil 2 remake.
Netflix also released a character trailer for Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness, giving us our first proper look at Leon and Claire as they reunite in the White House and discuss a mysterious drawing seemingly pertaining to a series of zombie-driven incidents around the globe.
Hasumi was also asked about his portrayal of these characters in the upcoming series. He explained that Leon, based on a suggestion by executive producer Kobayashi, is somewhat more cynical than Claire. Here's his full response:
Leaning on a suggestion from the Executive Producer Kobayashi, we decided to portray Leon as a somewhat cynical character in contrast to Claire. These events take place in 2006, between the time he was a young man filled with a sense of justice and 2014, when he had become slightly fatigued by the endless fighting as depicted in “Resident Evil: Vendetta.” The suit Leon wears is important as it symbolizes this position. I was impressed because he looks cool even in formal attire.
Versatile musician Yugo Kanno is responsible for the musical score for the upcoming series. Anyone familiar with the Resident Evil series understands it has a unique atmosphere. When composing Infinite Darkness, Kanno explained that he "inherited the spirit of the many people who worked on" previous Resident Evil titles, while also attempting to create "a new atmosphere through trial and error."
Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness is set to premiere exclusively on Netflix in July 2021.