Isabela Merced to Lead The House of the Dead Film Adaptation From Resident Evil Director Paul W.S. Anderson

Isabela Merced is heading back into video game adaptation territory — this time on the big screen.

The Last of Us, Superman and Alien: Romulus actor has been tapped to star in the feature film adaptation of Sega’s cult-classic video game franchise The House of the Dead, sources tell The Hollywood Reporter. The project reunites Merced with genre-heavy material as the film is set to be written and directed by Paul W.S. Anderson, whose Resident Evil franchise helped define modern zombie cinema.

Anderson, who has long cited The House of the Dead as a personal favorite, is positioning the movie as a potential franchise launch. The filmmaker previously translated Capcom’s Resident Evil games into a six-film series that grossed more than $1.2 billion worldwide, making him a natural fit for Sega’s undead shooter.

Originally released in arcades in 1997, The House of the Dead stood out for its breakneck pacing and its then-radical depiction of fast-moving zombies — a departure from the slow, shuffling undead popularized by George A. Romero. The game’s influence rippled across pop culture, informing later films including Zack Snyder’s 2004 remake of Dawn of the Dead and Marc Forster’s World War Z, both of which leaned into more aggressive, kinetic zombie threats.

In the game, players assume the roles of AMS agents — operatives in a shadowy government organization tasked with confronting global threats tied to rogue scientists and supernatural conspiracies. The agency’s grim name reflects the high mortality rate of its operatives, underscoring the franchise’s darkly comic edge.

Rocket Science will introduce the project to international buyers at next week’s European Film Market, where interest is expected to be strong given Merced’s rising profile and the enduring appeal of recognizable IP. CAA Media Finance is handling domestic sales. Sources say the partners view the film as a tentpole-style franchise starter.

The producing team includes Anderson and longtime collaborator Jeremy Bolt, Sega’s Toru Nakahara (Sonic the Hedgehog), and Story Kitchen’s Dmitri M. Johnson, Michael Lawrence Goldberg and Timothy I. Stevenson. Merced will serve as an executive producer.

Described as a “top Sega priority” following the box office success of the Sonic the Hedgehog films, the adaptation aims to deliver a highly immersive experience, with a narrative unfolding in real time and offering a fresh spin on the franchise’s mythology. Concept art for the project first surfaced roughly 18 months ago.

“The House of the Dead is a game I have loved for many years, and I’m beyond thrilled to be bringing this to the big screen with such an exciting talent as Isabela at its heart,” Anderson said. “We envisage this as the start of a tentpole franchise which can explore the rich world and lore that Sega has created over a whole series of films.”

Nakahara echoed the enthusiasm, saying Merced “embodies the heroine character perfectly,” adding that the team is focused on crafting a visually striking, creature-driven experience that honors the franchise while expanding it cinematically.

Story Kitchen, which has become a key player in game-to-film adaptations, called the collaboration “a powerhouse group coming together for a truly iconic property.”

A previous film adaptation of The House of the Dead, released in 2003 and directed by Uwe Boll, was widely panned and failed to gain traction at the box office. With Anderson at the helm and Merced leading the cast, expectations are considerably higher this time around.