A viral marketing campaign has taken over New York and Los Angeles with eerie red posters featuring missing persons photos and the cryptic message "Evil Has Always Had a Name." Scanning the QR code reveals what insiders are calling the most ambitious live-action Resident Evil project ever—a secret short film starring horror icon Maika Monroe.
Monroe, fresh off her chilling performance in Longlegs, dives headfirst into the Resident Evil universe with a role that required a grueling three-and-a-half-hour prosthetic transformation into a zombie. "It was pure madness on set," Monroe exclusively told TheEntBase. "We had hundreds of extras in zombie makeup, police, dogs, smoke machines—total chaos that perfectly captured the outbreak's terror."
The live-action 'Resident Evil Requiem' trailer. Capcom USA
The film, directed by Rich Lee (known for Billie Eilish and Eminem music videos), is not part of the upcoming Resident Evil Requiem game releasing February 27. Instead, it's a standalone story set in 1990s Raccoon City, following a mother (Monroe) protecting her daughter during the initial T-virus outbreak. "First came the sirens, then emergency broadcasts... followed by screams," Monroe recounts in character, highlighting the emotional depth that drew her to the project.
A zombified Maika Monroe after 3.5 hours of prosthetic work in the 'Resident Evil Requiem' trailer. Capcom USA
Filmed in Mexico City, the trailer showcases Monroe battling through violent streets against zombies and Lickers, with a heartbreaking flash-forward revealing her zombified fate. "Seeing the zombie visuals, knowing I'd become one, was thrilling," Monroe said, describing director Lee's nostalgic '90s-focused lookbook. The project marks Monroe's first foray into video game adaptations, though she's familiar with the franchise through the Milla Jovovich films.
This live-action teaser serves as promotional material for Resident Evil Requiem, which follows FBI analyst Grace Ashcroft and Leon S. Kennedy investigating deaths at an abandoned hotel. Monroe's involvement adds to her growing horror legacy, positioning her as a modern scream queen with a unique, emotional take on the genre.
The live-action 'Resident Evil Requiem' trailer. Capcom USA
