Resident Evil and the Secret to Successful Game Adaptations: The Relatable 'Dumb' Character
Baca dalam 60 detik
- Film Resident Evil garapan Zach Cregger meraup 60 juta dolar AS dan rating 95% di Rotten Tomatoes, membuktikan formula protagonis 'bodoh' mampu memikat penonton.
- Serial Golden Axe di Paramount Plus juga menerapkan strategi serupa dengan menghadirkan Hampton Squib, petualang kaya tanpa keterampilan yang menjadi cerminan audiens.
- Kesuksesan ini menandai pergeseran paradigma adaptasi gim dari fantasi kekuatan menjadi cerita yang lebih manusiawi dan mudah diterima penonton awam.
The Resident Evil film adaptation directed by Zach Cregger successfully broke the box office with revenues of 60 million US dollars and achieved a 95% rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes. This success is inseparable from Cregger's bold decision to choose Austin Abrams as the protagonist—a clumsy medical courier named Bryan—instead of the iconic character Leon Kennedy. This move proved effective, not only commercially but also in captivating audiences tired of the perfect, flawless game adaptation formula.
In an interview, Cregger revealed his reasons. He was more interested in portraying an ordinary, untrained person who had never held a weapon. "I'd rather watch a movie starring an ordinary person who isn't fit and has never shot a gun," he said. "I want to see that person chased in a tough test." This approach created fresh situational comedy while also making the audience feel represented.
This phenomenon is not new in Hollywood. In September 2026, Paramount Plus released the Golden Axe series, adapted from the 1989 arcade game. The series features a trio of tough heroes but also includes the character Hampton Squib (Danny Pudi), a wealthy adventurer with no skills who prefers making friends over fighting. Initially presented as 'the chosen one,' it was soon revealed that he was just an ordinary, incompetent person. For Pudi, this twist is what makes Golden Axe special. "In a lot of media, we see heroes who can suddenly do everything," he said. "Hampton is still learning."
The failure of Mortal Kombat 2021 serves as a contrasting example. The film introduced Cole Young (Lewis Tan) as an audience bridge, but his character was 'the chosen one,' making him difficult to identify with. The 2026 sequel responded by killing Cole and replacing him with Johnny Cage (Karl Urban), who is more competent but still has amusing flaws. This strategy satisfied game fans while giving audiences a character to root for.
Looking ahead, adaptations of Street Fighter and Far Cry are also expected to follow suit. Kitao Sakurai's Street Fighter trailer appears to embrace the game's absurdity, while Noah Hawley's Far Cry chose Rob Mac (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia) as the lead actor—known for playing foolish yet confident roles. If Mac's character is similar to his roles in Always Sunny or Mythic Quest, we might be witnessing a new wave of successful game adaptations.
"In a lot of media, we see heroes who can suddenly do everything. Hampton is still learning." — Danny Pudi
For the Indonesian entertainment industry, this trend offers valuable lessons. Local game adaptations or even domestic action films often get stuck with flawless, superhuman protagonists. In reality, characters with weaknesses and imperfections can strengthen the audience's emotional connection. With Indonesia's rapidly growing gaming market, the opportunity to adopt this 'dumb guy' formula is wide open, provided it is packaged with appropriate cultural context.
The success of Resident Evil and Golden Axe marks a turning point in how Hollywood approaches game adaptations. Will this wave last, or will it revert to soulless power fantasies? Time will tell, but for now, audiences seem to be enjoying a more human offering.
