Writer/director Paul W. S. Anderson joined Milla Jovovich and Ali Larter for an exclusive panel at WonderCon 2010 to discuss their recent efforts making Resident Evil: Afterlife — Alice (Jovovich) continues on her journey to find survivors and lead them to safety in a world ravaged by a virus infection that turns its victims into the undead.

But while this may be the fourth film in the franchise, it has plenty of “firsts” — the first in the series to be presented in 3D, the first film not named Avatar to use the three-dimensional technology developed by James Cameron, and also the first zombie film to use Cameron’s tech.

“James Cameron approached us about using the new technology and generously showed us a long portion of Avatar prior to its release. [Essentially] it convinced me that I should use 3D,” Anderson said, further explaining “to shoot and originate in 3D — not as a post process.”

Doing a film shot in 2D and transformed into 3D after it’s been finished has become the latest effort by many film studios to increase profit at the box office. It’s refreshing to see Anderson publicly stating that he isn’t a fan of this treatment.

As for the trailer itself, which was shown in 2D at the panel, it definitely made a point to let the viewers know about the distinction of high quality tech used for the movie. Still, it was chock full of high octane action and snarling, creepy zombies. The tone was much more gloomy/grim look to it, which adds to my rationale that this will be different than the movies before it.

Resident Evil: Afterlife hits theaters September 10, 2010, but until then check out the meager 2D trailer below…

Trailer