The future of theResident Evilfranchise is currently a mystery, as many are awaiting an officialRE9announcement. Capcom’s zombie-filled series is packed with both action and horror, which has helpedResident Evilmaintain a strong presence in pop culture. Leaks and rumors regarding the next chapter have been circulating around the internet for a long time now, leaving many wondering what’s in store for players.
One of the biggest rumors to arise aboutRE9is that Jill and Leon could return as protagonists. While this would be exciting, any claims aboutRE9should be met with skepticism until Capcom makes official confirmations. Because leaks and rumors can’t exactly be trusted, there are also claims that contradict the possibility of Jill and Leon’s return.Practically nothing concrete is known aboutRE9yet, but whatever happens in the game, the story arcs of its protagonists hopefully aren’t left as one-off narratives.
RE7 and Village’s Connected Storyline Should Continue
RE7andVillagepresented a big shake-up for the franchise, asResident Evilisn’t known for offering closely connected narratives. There is a general overarching premise and shared themes, but direct sequels are not part of the franchise’s usual formula. What happens to each story’s protagonist is confined within that game, butRE7andVillagechanged that, and it’s a better route forward. A connected narrative brings an extra layer of depth to the overall story, which could beincredibly beneficial toRE9.
The Ending of the Ethan Winters Saga Could Merely Be the Beginning of Something Bigger
The main arc ofRE7andVillagerevolved aroundEthan Winters and his family, and although that seems to have come to a close, it’s hopefully setting the groundwork for a larger narrative. This saga introduced some major revelations to the greaterResident Evilcanon, and Ethan’s daughter, Rose, and her superpowers have a lot of story potential. From the mysterious crime syndicate, The Connections, to Rose being under the guardianship of Chris Redfield and the U.S. government,RE9has a lot of narrative threads that will hopefully continue to be woven together.
RE7director Koshi Nakanishi has returned to headRE9.
Resident Evil Could Be Ready to Flip the Script Again
If leaks from Dusk Golem are to be believed,the nextResident Evilcould be shaking things up once more. Dusk Golem stated, “The thing I think people will realize whenRE9is revealed is the reason this game is taking so long is because it’s like a big reinvention of the series.” While these statements have not been confirmed by Capcom, Dusk Golem teased a “very ambitious” turn of the series. This remains to be seen, but if true, it will be interesting to see if it impacts the story established byRE7andVillage.
A major subversion of expectations could potentially point to a fresh start, and while that would still be compelling, not getting answers to any of the loose ends toRE7orVillageis also bound to be frustrating. Ifcharacters like Leonand Jill do happen to return, seeing how they play into this newer saga will be fascinating, if continued.
The reason this game is taking so long is because it’s like a big reinvention of the series.
Further rumors have claimed thatRE9could be open-world and revolve around a moon-worshipping cult.
RE9 News is Hopefully On the Horizon
Dusk Golem also claimed thatRE9will be announced this year. Considering it’s been nearly four years sinceVillagewas released, these statements hopefully prove true. As the year continues, it will be interesting to see if any of these leaks are confirmed to be accurate or not. Until then,RE9and its characters remain in the shadows.
