Netflix’s new Resident Evil series stretches across two timelines, and may feature cameos from some of the franchise’s most popular characters.
Netflix’s Resident Evil show will tell a new story set after the events of the video game series, but it may feature cameos from game characters. Netflix’s Resident Evil is an 8-part series set simultaneously in 2022 and 2036 and follows the twin daughters of franchise antagonist Albert Wesker (Lance Reddick). In 2022 Jade (Tamara Smart) and Billie (Sienna Agudong) move to New Raccoon City and uncover a dark conspiracy involving their father, the Umbrella Corporation, and the new antidepressant drug that they are manufacturing called ‘Joy’.
Meanwhile, in Resident Evil‘s second timeline, set in 2036, the world is overrun with zombies and monstrous mutants and an older Jade (Ella Balinska) is trying to survive in a zombie-infested London, while also coming to terms with the role her family played in the apocalypse. Resident Evil will use flashbacks to explore series villain Albert Wesker’s dark past and explain how he is alive after he was defeated by Chris Redfield in Resident Evil 5. Somehow a volcano and a rocket launcher were not enough to keep him down. Flashbacks would be the most logical place for characters from the Resident Evil video games to appear in Netflix’s series.
The show could also look at Resident Evil 8: Village, the most recent game in the series, as a source of potential cameos. Taking place in 2021, Village is set just a year before Jade and Billie Wesker arrive in New Raccoon City in Netflix’s Resident Evil show. Furthermore, there is reason to believe that Village‘s epilogue cutscene is set sometime in the 2030s, potentially lining up with Resident Evil‘s 2036 timeline.
Chris Redfield
As for game characters that might appear in season 1 of Resident Evil, Chris Redfield would be the most obvious candidate. He was one of the playable characters in the first Resident Evil video game and has a long personal history with Albert Wesker. Should Netflix’s Resident Evil series flashback to the Spencer Mansion incident depicted in the first game, or likewise Wesker’s ‘death’ in Resident Evil 5, a cameo from Chris seems likely. Similarly, as of Resident Evil 8: Village Chris is working for the Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance (BSAA). Having survived the events of VillageChris’ appearance in Resident Evil‘s 2022 timeline makes sense because he is an important member of a bioterrorism unit, and thus would be on ground zero of any outbreaks. Chris is the only Resident Evil video game character to appear in recent titles and Resident Evil 8: Village’s post-credit scene confirms that he is still alive in (potentially) the 2030s, making an appearance in Resident Evil‘s 2036 narrative also a possibility.
Rose Winters
The plot of Resident Evil 8: Village revolves around Ethan Winters trying to rescue his daughter Rose. Only a baby during the events of VillageRose has inherited her parent’s Mold infection and has (so far unspecified) supernatural powers. Villages’ epilogue sees a now teenage Rose learning to control her powers under Chris Redfield’s guardianship. With Resident Evil 8: Village taking place in 2021, it is safe to assume at least a decade or so has passed during the credits. That would put the post-credits scene in the 2030s and an appearance by teenage Rose in the 2036 timeline of Netflix’s Resident Evil entirely plausible.
Leon S. Kennedy and Dr. Salvador
While Leon S. Kennedy has not appeared in the franchise’s canon since 2014, he could very well make a cameo in season 1 of Netflix’s Resident Evil show. First appearing in Resident Evil 2 alongside Jill Valentine, Leon had the first day from hell as he arrived for his new job at the Raccoon City Police Department, only to find the full place of the undead. Having proven himself adept at combating Bio Organic Weapons (BOWs), Leon was recruited by the United States Strategic Command and tasked with rescuing Ashley Graham, the president’s abducted daughter, from an unassuming Spanish town.
In Resident Evil 4 Leon discovered Los Iluminados, a parasite-worshiping cult with connections to Albert Wesker and Umbrella. While Leon himself has never encountered Albert Wesker directly, according to a new rumor (via Rely on Horror) a character from Resident Evil 4 called Dr. Salvador may be appearing in the Resident Evil TV series. The chainsaw-wielding Salvador has become one of Resident Evil‘s most recognizable enemies and his appearance in the show could indicate a flashback to the events of Resident Evil 4 that leads to Leon Kennedy making an appearance in season 1 of Netflix’s Resident Evil show.
Dr. William Birkin
With Netflix’s Resident Evil series delving into Albert Wesker’s backstory, the show may want to explore his previous relationship with the Umbrella Corporation. It could do this by looking at Wesker’s partnership with Dr. William Birkin. A skilled virologist, Birkin was one of the antagonists of Resident Evil 2 and also helped Wesker to create the first iteration of the T-virus. The pair planned to betray Umbrella by selling company secrets to rivals and the US military. A flashback to this time would not only explore Wesker’s motivations further but would also demonstrate how Umbrella has (or more likely has not) changed since fans last saw the company in operation.
Resident Evil debuts globally on Netflix on July 14th.
