Jill Valentine and Leon S. Kennedy, two of the Resident Evil franchise’s most cherished characters, will be making their return in Resident Evil 9, a new mainline installment of Capcom’s leading survival horror franchise, according to the latest rumors that have been shared online. The rumor, which stems from a new video from YouTuber Residence of Evil, is accompanied by a separate claim about how RE9 will take place a few years after 2021’s Resident Evil Village, not including the Shadows of Rose DLC—four years, to be exact. A playtest of RE9 is said to have taken place in Japan earlier this year, between April and September.
This will be the first time the two have teamed up together in a Resident Evil game. Barry Burton will also return, but this time as a supporting character that will communicate with the player through radio calls. Jill will be dressed more tactical similar to her outfit in Resident Evil 5: Lost in Nightmares, while Leon will appear similar to his look in Resident Evil: Damnation. Jill will still look the same as she did in Resident Evil: Death Island, whereas Leon will look much older with an unshaven face and slightly longer hair.