Chandler Riggs, previously known for his role in The Walking Dead, has transitioned into filmmaking with a new short film titled Biohazard. The project serves as a fan-driven adaptation of Capcom's Resident Evil 7, featuring Riggs in the lead role of Ethan Winters.
From Discord Chats to a Louisiana Plantation
The concept for Biohazard began not in a professional studio, but during casual holiday conversations on Discord. As reported by ScreenRant, Chandler Riggs realized that the single-location setting of Resident Evil 7 made it an ideal candidate for a condensed short film. By focusing on Ethan Winters' mission to rescue his wife from a derelict Louisiana plantation, Riggs sought to create a cinematic version of the 2017 Capcom hit.
To bring this vision to life, Riggs secured incentive funding through the Tampa Bay film commissioner, which helped transform a casual joke into a structured independent project. This support allowed the production to leverage local resources to execute what Riggs described as a high-impact adaptation.
A Tampa Bay Ensemble Featuring Outer Banks and Preacher Talent
The production of Biohazard leans heavily on a cast of experienced actors to ground its horror elements . According to the report, the ensemble includes Jason Douglas from Preacher, Mary Rachel Quinn from Outer Banks, and Eugenie Bondurant, known for her work in Werewolf by Night.
To manage the logistics, Riggs teamed up with producer Shane Brady and a Tampa-based partner who had previously collaborated with him on various television and film projects. This partnership allowed the production to tap into local crews and provide a polished experience despite the modest budget. The collaboration with local Tampa Bay talent highlights a growing trend of independent creators utilizing regional film commissions to bridge the gap between amateur fan films and professional productions.
The Difficulty of Acting and Directing Ethan Winters Simultaneously
Taking on the dual roles of director, editor, and lead actor presented significant logistical hurdles for Riggs. He noted that being in "director mode" while performing as Ethan Winters made it difficult to manage shots without the luxury of multiple takes. Riggs explained that he was constantly switching between thinking about camera shots and executing character beats, a process that left little room for error.
The production functioned as a "hard-budget" endeavor, requiring instant creative decisions to maintain momentum. Riggs told ScreenRant's Grant Hermanns that the project felt like a "personal pilgrimage" to get the story right. He aimed to use the pressure to flesh out the emotional descent of the protagonist and the twisted dynamics of the Baker family, filling in narrative gaps left by the original video game to make the story feel more cinematic.
Will Biohazard Lead to Larger Capcom Collaborations?
While the film has begun to attract attention from horror enthusiasts and pop-culture communities, several questions remain regarding its long-term trajectory. It is currently unclear if Capcom, the developer of the Resident Evil franchise, has officially acknowledged the project or if there are plans for a wider distribution beyond its current platforms.
Furthermore, while the film is part of a weekend two-film push that included Zach Cregger's Resident Evil adaptation , it remains to be seen if this specific style of fan-led production will become a standard path for independent creators working with major intellectual properties.
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