It is no secret that Resident Evil Village is widely considered by many to be one of the best entries in the franchise. Apart from returning to the survival horror formula that popularized Resident Evil in the first place, Resident Evil Village also introduced a new story and a fresh set of characters.

Given the sudden shift in Resident Evil Village's direction, some fans have wondered what has happened to several of the franchise's main characters. In Resident Evil Village, Chris Redfield serves as the only main link between the new and old Resident Evil, leaving many to wonder what has happened to his longtime partner, Jill Valentine.

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What Happened to Jill Valentine?

Jill following Wesker - Resident Evil Jill Valentine Facts

Excluding the 2020 remake of Resident Evil 3 and Resident Evil Revelations, which occurred after Resident Evil 4, Jill was last seen in Resident Evil 5. Given that Resident Evil 5 was set in 2009, Jill has been missing in action for over a decade now, which is a huge mystery given that she is considered to be one of the best characters in Resident Evil.

In Resident Evil 5, it has been revealed that Jill was captured by Albert Wesker and was subjected to all sorts of experiments due to her still having remnants of the T-virus after she was infected in Raccoon City. During a confrontation with Wesker, Chris and Sheva Alomar discovered a device placed on Jill's chest, which was later revealed to have been implanted by Wesker to control her. Eventually, Jill was freed from her captivity and, with the help of B.S.A.A. operative Josh Stone, assisted Chris and Sheva in defeating Wesker.

Unfortunately, Resident Evil 5 did not detail what happened to Jill after her rescue in Africa. However, in an email sent to Barry Burton in Resident Evil Revelations 2, Jill revealed that she had been locked up in a B.S.A.A. lab as they ran countless tests on her. Jill also mentioned that "rehab should be starting soon," indicating that she may be suffering from withdrawal after being subjected to a drug that allowed Wesker to control her.

Jill Valentine in Resident Evil

It is worth noting that Jill's email to Barry wasn't dated, though it is likely that Barry received it sometime in 2009 since Jill mentioned that she had just come back from Africa. Unfortunately, Jill wasn't even mentioned in Resident Evil 6 and 7, and given that Resident Evil Village was set in 2021, it is unlikely that Jill is still under rehabilitation. While her experience with Wesker may have likely given her P.T.S.D., her email to Barry also indicated her longing to get back in action and battle B.O.W.s alongside her teammates. While no one knows what Jill is doing during the events of Resident Evil Village, she is likely still working with the B.S.A.A. either behind the scenes or on active duty.

Although other characters like Leon Kennedy have also been missing in recent Resident Evil games, Leon did appear in the CGI film Resident Evil Vendetta set in 2014. Unfortunately for Jill, she has never appeared in any of the CGI films, so the last fans heard of her was in Resident Evil Revelations 2. However, it is worth pointing out that due to her impact on the series' story and Resident Evil as a franchise, it is a mystery why Capcom seemed to have abandoned her.

Hopeful fans speculate that Capcom may be setting her up for a big return. Given that interest in Jill was revived after the Resident Evil 3 remake, it is possible that Jill's return may be in the pipeline in the future of Resident Evil. In addition, while the highly-anticipated DLC of Resident Evil Village is still in development, some hope that the expansion will see the return of Jill Valentine to the game series and her reunion with her longtime partner, Chris Redfield.

Resident Evil Village is available for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

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