Highlights

  • Resident Evil 9 has the potential to explore new settings and enemy factions, with rumors suggesting that Chris Redfield could be the main protagonist investigating his former organization.
  • Chris Redfield's inclusion as the protagonist would appeal to long-time fans and bring the franchise full circle, as he was one of the first protagonists in the series.
  • Killing off Chris Redfield in Resident Evil 9 would be a predictable and disappointing move, as it would cheapen the moment and eliminate future opportunities for him to interact with other legacy characters.

For the first time in a long time, it feels like the Resident Evil franchise could go anywhere, and do pretty much anything. With the Ethan Winters saga coming to a close in Resident Evil Village, Resident Evil 9 essentially has free rein in where it decides to go. Just about any setting, any enemy faction, and any playable protagonist could be on the table for Resident Evil 9, though that hasn't stopped rumors from setting some pretty definitive boundaries.

While all rumors and leaks should always be taken with a big pinch of salt, it has been heavily speculated for quite a while now that Chris Redfield will be the main playable protagonist of Resident Evil 9, and with how Village ends, that would make a lot of sense. A story centered around Chris Redfield investigating his former BSAA organization for their use of BOWs sounds like a great premise on paper and would put Resident Evil 9 in a good spot right from the get-go, though there's one plot point Capcom should refrain from, and that's the potential death of Chris Redfield.

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Why Capcom Shouldn't Kill Chris Redfield in Resident Evil 9

Chris Redfield Is The Perfect Protagonist for Resident Evil 9

With all of the recent Resident Evil remakes being so successful, the franchise's legacy characters have never been so popular, which puts Chris Redfield in a top spot for Resident Evil 9's protagonist. While a completely original protagonist could be great, there's no denying that getting a legacy character like Chris is a guaranteed way to capture the attention of long-time fans.

Having Chris Redfield as Resident Evil 9's main playable protagonist would also be a really fun way to bring the franchise full circle. Chris was the first protagonist of the entire Resident Evil franchise, alongside Jill Valentine, so having him carry forward that legacy into the newest mainline entry would be a nice little full-circle moment for nostalgic fans. Additionally, it seems like Capcom is planning on remaking Resident Evil 5 next, and with Chris Redfield being one of the primary protagonists of that game, it would act as a nice bit of franchise synergy if he was also the main protagonist in Resident Evil 9 around the same time.

Why Killing Chris Redfield in Resident Evil 9 Would Be a Mistake

But while having Chris Redfield as Resident Evil 9's protagonist makes a whole lot of sense, there's one specific plot point that Capcom needs to avoid like the plague, and that's the character's death. Though it might seem like a shocking plot point on paper, many fans already know that the franchise is long overdue for a major legacy character death, and all fingers are currently pointing to Chris Redfield. But with so many fans already expecting that outcome in Resident Evil 9, that would make Chris' potential death feel pretty predictable, which could greatly cheapen the moment.

Killing off Chris Redfield in Resident Evil 9 would also be a major disappointment for fans still hoping to see him have any meaningful interactions with the rest of the legacy crew. Aside from the CG movies, the Resident Evil legacy cast has rarely interacted with one another on-screen. For instance, fan-favorite character Leon Kennedy has only encountered Chris Redfield once on-screen, and that was during one very brief cutscene in Resident Evil 6. Killing off Chris in Resident Evil 9 would also kill off any future opportunities for the character to interact with others.