Resident Evil: Retribution is redefining the term “interactive filmmaking” right now. It seems that the cast and crew of the fifth installment in the popular video-game-turned-movie franchise are embracing this brave new world in which movie productions are an open book to the public (See: the productions of The Dark Knight Rises and The Avengers). Instead of letting the paparazzi and amateur snoops get the glory for snapping a behind-the-scenes look at their film, the Resident Evil team are bringing the fans directly into their filmmaking experience.
Franchise star Milla Jovovich has been the one leading the free marketing charge for Resident Evil 5; in just the last week we’ve seen assorted set videos and photos that Jovovich has been tweeting, including a look at fan-favorite character Ada Wong (Bingbing Li) in full costume.
Today, however, it’s not Jovovich who is giving us the goods (mind out of the gutter, fellas) – it’s actually returning cast member Boris Kodjoe (Undercovers) who is sharing his time on the set with the public – and in doing so, has (inadvertently?) dropped a nice tidbit of information that longtime fans of the Resident Evil games will love to hear: we’ll be once again seeing the dreaded “Lickers” in Retribution.
Check out Kodjoe’s tweet and accompanying grainy image of a Licker claw, below:
“I’m here people! Night shift once again on RE5. Yeah! Bring it. Here’s the real size claw of the ‘licker’, chillin’.“
“Lickers” are a breed of bizarre mutant creatures that have evolved as the Resident Evil video games have released subsequent installments. The basic design is a four-legged beastie covered in what looks like skinless muscle, with exposed brains where their eyes should be, big fangs and (as seen above) claws – and of course, the elongated tongues that are their namesake. Anyone who has played a Resident Evil game knows just how big of a pain in the ass Lickers can be – especially when they ambush you and the tongues start flying.
Seeing that claw photo, one would expect that we’re going to see some truly freaky onscreen versions of the Lickers in Resident Evil: Retribution – hopefully a much, much, better translation than some of other big beasties from the game have had on their journey to the screen (Nemesis, anyone?). The Lickers made a brief appearance near the end of the first Resident Evil film – but again, hopefully they’re better realized in this new installment.
Resident Evil: Retribution will be in theaters on September 14, 2012. Excited to see the Lickers on the big screen?
