Sienna Guillory Won’t Be Back
We may not understand the love the “Resident Evil” franchise has, but money doesn’t lie. Now four films strong, each entry in the series has made more than the last (not unlike the “Final Destination” franchise) with last year’s 3D effort “Resident Evil: Afterlife” taking in nearly $300 million worldwide, pretty much doubling the $147 million haul of “Resident Evil: Extinction.” That’s the kind of numbers that makes studio executives tingle. Anyway, it wasn’t much of a surprise that a sequel was greenlit and stamped with a 2012 release date last fall, and this bit of news is even less of a stunner.
Believe it or not, franchise star Milla Jovovich and Paul W.S. Anderson, series producer and director of two installments including the massive ‘Afterlife,’ will be back for “Resident Evil: Retribution” (not to be confused with “G.I. Joe 2: Retaliation“). That said, fans might be bummed to learn that Sienna Guillory, who played Jill Valentine in the last two movies, won’t be back according to Bloody Disgusting with her part being recast. No word yet on why she has been bumped. Other new parts in the midst of casting include Barry Burton, a member of S.T.A.R.S. (Special Tactics And Rescue Service), and Leon Scott Kennedy, a U.S. Government agent and former officer for the Raccoon City Police Department.
Plot details are under wraps, but apparently this will be a bit more of a globetrotting tale. Filming is gearing up to start in October with a September 14, 2012 release date already penciled in.