For years, Resident Evil fans have watched Jill Valentine get sidelined while Leon Kennedy and Chris Redfield hogged the spotlight. She hasn’t been the main protagonist of a numbered RE game since 2023’s Resident Evil 3 Remake. So when rumors started circulating that Jill would make a triumphant return as a dual protagonist alongside Leon in Resident Evil 9, fans got genuinely excited. Then Dusk Golem, one of the most reliable leakers in gaming, showed up and crushed those hopes faster than a Tyrant in a hallway.
The Rumor That Started It All
Back in November 2024, rumors began circulating that Resident Evil 9 would feature a groundbreaking dual protagonist system with both Jill Valentine and Leon Kennedy as playable main characters. This was exciting because RE games have traditionally alternated between protagonists or used co-op side characters, but never truly given two iconic characters equal billing as main protagonists in a single campaign.
The rumor made sense on paper. Jill is one of the franchise’s most recognizable characters, having appeared in the original RE1, the legendary RE3, and multiple spin-offs. Leon is the franchise’s other major pillar. Combining them would be the perfect way to celebrate the series’ deep history while giving Jill fans the main role they’ve been demanding for two decades.
For a few weeks, the rumor mill was convinced this was happening. Fans created art, wrote threads discussing how the mechanics would work, and got genuinely hyped for Jill’s return to glory. Then came January 2025 and the harsh reality check.
Dusk Golem Says It’s All Wrong
Dusk Golem, who operates under the handle AestheticGamer on social media, has one of the most reliable track records in gaming leaks. They correctly predicted details about Resident Evil 2 Remake, Resident Evil Village, and numerous other projects. When they decided to publicly debunk the Jill Valentine rumors, people had to listen. The message was blunt: “Jill doesn’t play any major role in Resident Evil 9 unfortunately. I’m crushing the Jill hopium now before wrong expectations are set.”
But it got worse. Dusk Golem added that “nearly every RE9 rumor that’s been floated around has been bullshit.” This suggests that the dual protagonist leak, the hospital setting rumors, and most other information fans had pieced together were essentially fiction. They advised everyone to “wait for actual RE9 news” rather than speculate about increasingly wild scenarios.
The credibility of this debunking matters because Dusk Golem has spent years building relationships with industry sources inside Capcom and other publishers. When they say something is wrong, there’s usually smoke behind that fire.
How Did We Get Here? The Jill Tragedy
To understand why this rumor was so disappointing, you need to understand Jill’s journey in the Resident Evil franchise. She debuted as a main protagonist in the original 1998 Resident Evil, and she was fantastic. Playing as Jill, navigating the mansion, and discovering the truth about Umbrella felt special. She came back for RE3 as the undisputed star, dealing with Nemesis and his relentless pursuit.
Then the decades went by. Jill appeared in Resident Evil 5 as a side character, trapped under Wesker’s mind control for most of the game. She got a lead role again in Resident Evil Revelations, which was solid but a spin-off, not a main series entry. The 2023 Resident Evil 3 Remake was excellent and reintroduced her to modern players, but it was still a remake of a 25-year-old game.
Meanwhile, Capcom has centered the modern mainline RE games around Leon Kennedy in RE2 Remake, RE4 Remake, and RE6. Ethan Winters was the lead for RE7 and RE8 (Village). Chris Redfield got RE5 and RE6. Jill, despite being an original series pillar, got sidelined while newer or more recent protagonists took turns in the spotlight.
So What Actually Happens to Jill in RE9?
This is where Dusk Golem got vague, which is annoying but typical of their approach to leaking. They said Jill won’t have a “major role,” but they didn’t explicitly say she’s completely absent from the game. The distinction matters. She could appear as a supporting character, a minor mission giver, a cameo, or something similar. She just won’t be a main protagonist.
According to leaked information reportedly from playtests, Jill was apparently originally planned as Leon’s co-op partner in earlier versions of RE9, but those versions of the game were scrapped during development. The game was allegedly restarted or significantly restructured a few years ago, which could have cut Jill’s role down significantly in the process.
What we do know is that Leon Kennedy is expected to be the main protagonist of RE9 based on the most credible leaks. That part seems consistent across different sources. Beyond that, the specifics of everyone else’s involvement remains a mystery until Capcom actually announces something officially.
The Aging Problem Nobody Talks About
There’s one more complicating factor worth mentioning. If Jill does appear in RE9 significantly, Capcom would need to explain her appearance. The RE timeline is set in the 2020s, and Jill was introduced in 1998. That means she should be in her late 40s or early 50s, assuming normal aging.
But according to Resident Evil lore from the recent movie Death Island and established canon, Jill was infected with the T-Virus multiple times and received vaccines and antibodies as a result. This has apparently slowed her aging process significantly, allowing her to look decades younger than she should be. That’s canon explanation that works in-universe, but Capcom would still need to address it on-screen if she shows up.
Whether Capcom wants to deal with that complicated lore explanation might be part of why they’re keeping Jill sidelined. It’s easier to focus on Leon, who has always aged naturally and doesn’t require exposition about viral biology to make sense.
When Will We Actually Know Anything Official?
Dusk Golem predicted that Capcom would officially announce RE9 sometime after summer 2025. Since we’re now in November 2025 and there’s still no official announcement, that timeline is clearly off or the game got delayed further. Capcom could announce it at The Game Awards in December, or they might wait for a 2026 event. At this point, nobody outside Capcom knows for sure.
What’s clear is that Capcom is being extremely quiet about RE9. There’s been no official trailer, no gameplay footage, no character reveals, nothing. Just radio silence beyond the initial confirmation that the game is in development. That radio silence fuels speculation, which leads to rumors, which get debunked by people like Dusk Golem, which disappoints fans. It’s a cycle.
The Broader Question: Does Jill’s Character Matter Anymore?
Beyond the specific RE9 situation, this raises a bigger question about what Capcom’s plans are for Jill long-term. She’s been a series staple for 27 years. The Resident Evil 3 Remake proved modern players connect with her character. She was the star of one of the franchise’s best games ever made in the original RE3.
Yet Capcom keeps choosing to put her on the sidelines. Is it a creative decision? A marketing one? Do they not think she can carry a modern AAA game? Or are they just holding her in reserve for some big moment that they want to save for a special occasion?
Without hearing from Capcom directly, fans can only speculate. But the pattern is clear: When given a choice between Jill and other protagonists, Capcom keeps choosing the other options. RE9 apparently continues that trend.
FAQs
Will Jill Valentine be in Resident Evil 9?
According to Dusk Golem, Jill won’t play a major role in RE9, though he didn’t explicitly state she’s completely absent. She could appear as a supporting character, but she won’t be a main protagonist. She was originally planned as a co-op partner in earlier versions of the game but was removed or significantly reduced when the game was restructured.
Who is the main protagonist of RE9?
Based on credible leaks, Leon Kennedy is expected to be the main protagonist of Resident Evil 9. This aligns with multiple sources and seems to be the most consistent information available about RE9’s cast.
Is Dusk Golem a reliable source?
Dusk Golem (AestheticGamer) has one of the best track records for Resident Evil leaks, having correctly predicted details about RE2 Remake, RE Village, and other major releases. However, they have been wrong occasionally, and their information is often vague. Their debunking of Jill’s major role is taken seriously by the industry.
Why doesn’t Jill get main character roles anymore?
This is unclear. Jill is a beloved character and the RE3 Remake proved modern players connect with her. Possible reasons include creative direction, marketing decisions, or Capcom saving her for a special moment. The exact reasoning hasn’t been officially stated by Capcom.
When will Capcom officially announce RE9?
Capcom hasn’t provided a timeline. Dusk Golem predicted an announcement after summer 2025, but that hasn’t materialized. It could come at The Game Awards in December 2025, or Capcom might wait until 2026. For now, Capcom has maintained radio silence about RE9 details.
Was the dual protagonist rumor true?
No, according to Dusk Golem. The rumor that Jill and Leon would be dual protagonists in RE9 has been debunked. Leon is expected to be the main character, with Jill playing no major role in the final version of the game.
Could Jill appear in RE9 as a supporting character?
It’s possible. Dusk Golem said she won’t have a major role, but that doesn’t necessarily mean she’s completely absent. She could cameo, help Leon in certain missions, or appear in side content. Until Capcom reveals details, the full extent of her involvement remains unknown.
How old would Jill be in RE9?
Chronologically, Jill should be in her late 40s or early 50s given the RE timeline spans from 1998 to the 2020s. However, RE canon established that her repeated infections with the T-Virus and subsequent vaccinations have slowed her aging significantly, allowing her to appear much younger. This would need to be addressed if she appears prominently in RE9.
Conclusion
The crushing of Jill Valentine fan hopes in January 2025 was painful, and it reflects a broader frustration with how Capcom has treated one of the franchise’s most iconic characters. While Jill might still appear in Resident Evil 9 in some capacity, it’s clear she won’t be getting the main character moment fans have been hoping for. Whether this is a permanent direction or just a delay of her big comeback remains to be seen. For now, Jill fans will have to accept that RE9 is Leon’s show and hope that Capcom eventually gives their favorite character the leading role she deserves. The wait for official news continues, and so does the wait for Jill’s triumphant return to the spotlight.