Resident Evil Movie's AI Accusations Shut Down by Storyboard Artist

Storyboard artist Simeon Wilkins confirms his work on Zach Cregger's Resident Evil was hand-drawn, not AI, after online rumors. The film is a hit with 95% on Rotten Tomatoes and $100M opening weekend.

Ever seen a storyboard and thought, "Wait, is that AI?" You're not alone. Some Resident Evil fans got suspicious when early storyboard art for Zach Cregger's new movie popped up online, and they cried foul, claiming it looked like AI. But the artist behind those drawings isn't having it.

Simeon Wilkins, the storyboard artist who worked with Cregger on the film, took to Twitter to clear the air. "A small sampling of the storyboard work I did with Zach for Resident Evil. Not an ounce of AI here- all hand-drawn!" he wrote, sharing a peek at the early sketches. So there you have it: no robots were harmed in the making of this zombie flick.

The rumors started because, let's face it, not everyone knows what storyboard art looks like. It's rough, it's sketchy, and it's meant to be a quick visual guide, not a finished masterpiece. But some moviegoers saw those early drawings and jumped to conclusions. Wilkins' post put those fears to rest pretty quickly.

Meanwhile, Cregger's Resident Evil is absolutely killing it. The movie scored a whopping 95% on Rotten Tomatoes and raked in $100 million internationally over its opening weekend. Our own review called it "frightening, funny and exceedingly bloody," and "an easy frontrunner for the best video game movie to date." That's high praise for a franchise that's had its ups and downs on the big screen.

The film stars Austin Abrams as Bryan, a medical courier whose last delivery of the night takes him to Raccoon City General Hospital. Unfortunately for him, he walks straight into a full-blown zombie apocalypse. It doesn't adapt a specific game, but it's set during the same timeframe as Resident Evil 2, so fans of the classic will feel right at home.

Of course, this isn't the first time fans have side-eyed Cregger's take. When it was announced the movie would follow a new protagonist instead of series mainstay Leon, plenty of people were upset. But Cregger has proven himself a true fan of the games, pulling inspiration from across the franchise. And honestly? Adding to the lore instead of just rehashing it is way more exciting.

The proof is in the pudding—or should we say, the box office and the review scores. Resident Evil is in theaters now. If you're curious where it ranks among the best Resident Evil movies, we've got you covered. And if you've already seen it, check out our ending explained breakdown.

So, what do you think? Were you worried about the AI rumors, or did you know it was just good old-fashioned hand-drawn art? Will you be catching Resident Evil on the big screen? Let us know in the comments!