Heroes star Ali Larter joined Milla Jovovich for the final film of the Resident Evil franchise, Resident Evil: Extinction, directed by Russell Mulcahy from a screenplay by Resident Evil veteran Paul W.S. Anderson. Larter's new to the franchise and admits to never having played a Resident Evil videogame in her life. Even though she's a total newbie to the world of Raccoon City and the Umbrella Corporation, Larter enthusiasticlly joined Jovovich at the 2007 San Diego Comic Con to help promote the last Resident Evil movie before a crowd of comic book and movie fans.
Following the public Q&A, Larter took part in press roundtables to discuss Resident Evil: Extinction which hits theaters on September 21, 2007.
What’s your character’s journey in Resident Evil: Extinction?
“At this point we are part of a convoy traveling across the Nevada desert. It’s a post-apocalyptic world and it’s really a dog-eat-dog world. You do what you have to do to survive. There’s no bulls**t. There’s no time for sentiments or kind of any fluff. It’s a very rough world. I think that’s where you pick us up. You’ll see them come for us, and the zombies come out.”
What’s it like being on a set with people made up as zombies?
“My heart just went out to them because it was 120 degrees and they’re in these full suits and if we were hot… I mean, people were dropping like flies. Like the crows… But they were cool. You know, again I just I think this movie people love the first one and the second one. I hadn’t seen them before and I watched them and I think they’re fun. And with this one, I think David Johnson was our DP and he makes it look so beautiful. So you’re taking this shoot ‘em up kind of action, sci-fi, movie that’s full of indulgence and then on top of it you’re making it look visually beautiful.”
What did you think when you watched the previous Resident Evil movies?
“I kind of skimmed through them. I watched them a bit, but I didn’t sit and study them because, again, I think that each one stands on their own. Yeah, they kind of follow a sequence, but in truth, the first one I think is better than the second one, the bits that I saw, and kind of what Milla talks about, I took her lead on that. You know with this, I’m coming in so it’s got to be fresh to me. It’s a fresh character. She hasn’t been in the other two, so I’m not reprising someone’s role.”
And it doesn’t look like you have to wear skimpy little outfits in this.
“What I think is good about this movie… I mean, Milla’s outfit is amazing and her whole look on a visual level is so cool for this and totally how it’s set with the colors of it. And to have you in little things running around, it just doesn’t work. There has to be a bit of realism and that’s what I think we tried to do with this, put a little bit more realism into the third one than the second one.”
How grueling were the conditions on the set?
“Next junket, I’m going to bring a picture. There’s a picture of when we were shooting where I was so sweaty, my face is like a red little ball. I’m holding the thermometer and it is 128 degrees and that is the truth. It was the most excruciating heat I’ve ever experienced in my life.”
Do you enjoy shooting out in the elements more than on a soundstage?
“I do. I always seem to work either in the freezing cold or the heat or the rain. I’m always in some kind of crazy weather environment. I enjoyed it because it allows me to totally stay in the present. If you’re hot, you’re hot and there’s no time to kind of get caught up with the rest or to get tired. You’re really in it. And specifically for this I think it will definitely contribute just to how rough it would be. If this had happened and it was a post-apocalyptic world and the heat and the thirst and the dry lips… I mean that was us.”
Can you talk about Claire in the video game versus Claire in the film?
“I have never seen the video game and I’m not from kind of the video game world or the comic book world so as I go into this, even with Heroes, these are all kind of new adventures for me to learn about and experience. I just know that she was inspired by the video game and I hope that people like it and don’t attack me for not living up to this girl they made up in their minds.”
What is the reason behind the fact the Resident Evil movies have done well compared to others films inspired by video games?
“Milla Jovovich. That’s what I think. I think she’s amazing. I think that she’s strong, and I think she’s a great actress. Obviously people see this and they relate to her on some level. They love watching her and supporting the films. Hats off to her, she was nothing but gracious inviting me onto this movie. Set an example for me to behave in the future when you’re in that position. I think it’s her. This is definitely on her.”
How did the action scenes in Resident Evil: Extinction compare to your action scenes in Heroes?
“This was more. It was more action for sure, and it was also just again the elements. On Heroes, we definitely go out on location a lot. I don’t know. They were both… I love doing stunts, it’s so much fun for me. Yeah, it’s great. I love being able to do all different kinds of aspects of this industry, actually. Different genres, all different things. If it was only action, I’m not sure I would love that. I love to be able at least do a couple dialogue scenes in there, just a couple!”
Do you do a lot of your own stunts?
“I have a great stunt double named Nicole who’s on Heroes. They only let you do a certain amount so even if you want to do it, insurance doesn’t allow that to happen.”
