Highlights
- Claire Redfield's connection to the Resident Evil franchise has helped expand the game's world and create a sense of continuity between characters, and she could return soon due to her relationship with her brother Chris - a character who is still deeply involved in the story.
- Claire has become a fan-favorite character due to her relatability and her role in fighting against Bio-Terror. She has played a major part in thwarting evil schemes and assisting in the rehabilitation of conflict zones, but has been missing from the games for some time.
- It would be exciting to see Claire return in Resident Evil 9, especially after her modernized portrayal in the RE2 Remake. Her return would make many fans happy, whether as a playable character or in a supporting role alongside Chris.
Resident Evil is all about the characters. Ever since the decision to expand the game's world by connecting different characters to each other in Resident Evil 2, players have felt a connection to the heroes fighting for survival. Credit could be given to the original RE2 supervisor, Yoshiki Okamoto for enlisting the assistance of screenwriter Noboru Sugimura to re-write the story for the game to include Claire Redfield. Okamoto's vision for an expanding game franchise consisting of self-contained stories that are all connected to the lore created by Shinji Mikami is part of what made Resident Evil what it is today. And Claire Redfield is an important part of that development.
Claire Redfield was introduced as a college student searching for her brother Chris, one of the protagonists of the first game. This connection established the mystery of what RE characters do between games, something that eventually led to spin-offs, animated films, novels, and other supplemental content. Claire's search for Chris persisted into her second game in the series, Resident Evil - Code: Veronica, where they finally reunite on screen. Since then, Claire has only appeared as a lead character in another spin-off, Revelations 2, making her only true mainline appearance being RE2. If there is any chance of Claire returning in a numbered game, then perhaps it would be to accompany Chris.
Claire Through The Years
Why Claire Redfield Should Return
Claire Redfield after RE2
Claire has been a fan-favorite character since her reveal in Resident Evil 2. One of the more widely relatable characters, Claire, is not an officer, soldier, or agent of any kind. She survives by using ingenuity and courage. Her admirable desire to help others shines through in moments such as her protection of Sherry Birkin and her involvement in TerraSave later on. Though not a soldier, she dedicates her life to fighting against Bio-Terror just like her brother Chris.
After Resident Evil 2, Claire decided to take on the evil Umbrella Corporation directly. She has played a major part in thwarting many evil schemes over the years. Her prominent role in the human rights agency TerraSave led her to assist in the rehabilitation of conflict zones after major incidents. She essentially helped clean up the mess left after the mainline games like RE5 and the animated films.
Claire Redfield's Role In Resident Evil 9
The latest appearance of Claire Redfield in the Resident Evil canon has been in the recently released film Resident Evil: Death Island. In this film, which takes place between the events of Resident Evil 6 and Resident Evil 7, Claire teams up with Chris as well as other series regulars Jill Valentine, Leon Kennedy, and Rebecca Chambers to once again save the day. Though it hasn't been shown what happened to Claire after this, it is safe to assume she hasn't stopped fighting against Bio-Terrorism.
In RE7 and RE: Village, the BSAA that Chris and Jill were working for dissolves. Apparently, corruption within the agency led to their usage of B.O.W.s, forcing Chris to go rogue with his Hound Wolf squad. Based on Claire's character, she would no doubt support her brother through this. If Chris returns in RE9, it could be possible to see Claire return to a supporting role. As in the past, when Chris is in a tough spot, Claire goes searching for him.
The plot of Resident Evil 9 is still a mystery, but it would be nice to see Claire make a return. Especially after RE2 Remake, which introduced a modern take on the character. RE2 Remake reached new fans for the series and Claire, so seeing her return would make a lot of people happy. Either as a playable character or a supporting one, Claire Redfield's return in RE9 along with Chris would be most welcome.
Resident Evil
Resident Evil is a long-running survival horror franchise developed by Capcom. Spread across numerous mainline and spin-off entries, the series is known for it’s third and first-person action horror, zombie-related monsters and references, and challenging puzzles.
