Few video game characters have garnered as much attention and fascination from fans in recent months as Lady Alcina Dimitrescu, the vampiric antagonist of upcoming survival horror title Resident Evil Village. Also known as Resident Evil 8, Village is the eighth main series title. It sees returning protagonist Ethan Winters, who previously starred in Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, investigating a mysterious European village in order to rescue his daughter Rosemary from fellow returning character Chris Redfield.
While the game is planned to feature a variety of antagonists, including werewolf-like monsters and a sinister cult, it was Lady Dimitrescu who fans found most intriguing. First noticed in an early trailer for her elegant sense of style and extreme height, Dimitrescu was referred to by the Internet as "Tall Vampire Lady" until her name was officially revealed in a later press release. Further information clarified that she is a centuries-old vampire who resides in the castle overlooking the titular Village, along with her vampire "daughters." Bombarded by fan questions, developer Capcom has provided information on everything from her official height to the size of her feet.
A Resident Evil Village showcase hosted by Capcom announced tons of new information regarding the game, including the release of a limited-time demo. This broadcast also featured the name "Dimitrescu" officially spoken aloud for the first time. Fans were surprised by the pronunciation, as the "U" at the end of the name was revealed to be silent. Streamer AestheticGamer confirmed on his Twitter that official materials sent to streamers by Capcom included a note that "Deh-meh-tresk" is the correct pronunciation.
Some fans on Twitter, including a number of residents of Eastern Europe, have expressed disappointment regarding the official pronunciation of the vampire's name. A video made by Twitter user ChaoticClaire indicates that an accurate pronunciation would include a spoken "U." ChaoticClaire also criticized the game's currency system, as Village utilizes the Romanian "leu" but constantly misuses the plural form, "lei," when referring to singular pieces of money. She did, however, praise Lady Dimitrescu's voice actress for sounding authentically Romanian.
The game's creators were reportedly surprised by Lady Dimitrescu's sudden online popularity, so it is possible that the inaccurate pronunciation is simply a mistake. Alternately, it may be a deliberate decision - the "u" is silent, just as "you" would be if suddenly confronted by a 9'6" tall stunningly attractive vampire.
Resident Evil: Village will release on May 7, 2021 for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.