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Fans of the Resident Evil video game series may be surprised to learn that some of the franchise’s most famous characters — Leon S. Kennedy, Jill Valentine and Ada Wong — are not the main characters of the new Resident Evil movie.
Directed by Zach Cregger, the 2026 film tells an original story set within the Resident Evil universe rather than directly adapting one of the games.
Why aren’t Leon, Jill and Ada in Resident Evil 2026?
The main reason is simple: director Zach Cregger wanted to tell a new story rather than retell a story that fans have already experienced in the games.
Cregger has explained that trying to insert established characters such as Leon, Jill or Claire into the movie simply because they are popular would feel unnatural to the story he wanted to tell.
He described the movie as a self-contained story and said that the story itself had to come first.
Instead of following one of the established game characters, the film introduces a completely new protagonist named Bryan, played by Austin Abrams.
Who is Bryan?
Bryan is a medical courier who has no special combat training and is not an experienced zombie hunter.
His ordinary job takes him into Raccoon City at exactly the wrong time — during a devastating outbreak.
This makes Bryan very different from characters such as Leon Kennedy.
Leon is already an experienced government agent by the time of the events associated with Resident Evil 2, while Bryan is essentially an ordinary person suddenly forced to survive a nightmare.
Cregger has compared Bryan’s journey to an ordinary person being thrown into an enormous and dangerous adventure. The director has also emphasized that Bryan is not a typical video-game hero with perfect combat skills.
That difference is intentional.
The movie takes place during the Resident Evil 2 era
Even though Leon and the other familiar characters aren’t the focus, the movie is still connected to the world that fans know.
Resident Evil 2026 takes place during the Raccoon City outbreak, around the same period as the events of Resident Evil 2.
However, the film does not simply retell Resident Evil 2 from another character’s perspective.
Instead, Cregger has created a new story happening within that larger catastrophe.
This gives the filmmakers room to explore a different part of Raccoon City without repeating Leon and Claire’s story.
Why not simply make a Leon movie?
For Cregger, there was little reason to retell Leon’s story when that story already exists in the games.
The director has explained that he wanted to make a movie that could exist inside the Resident Evil universe without simply reproducing an existing game storyline.
In other words, Resident Evil 2026 is intended to feel like a new nightmare in a familiar world.
That approach also gives longtime fans something they cannot predict scene-for-scene from the games.
What about Jill Valentine and Ada Wong?
Jill Valentine and Ada Wong are also among the recognizable Resident Evil characters who aren’t being used as the movie’s central protagonists.
Their absence follows the same creative approach.
Rather than filling the movie with familiar characters simply because audiences know them, Cregger has chosen to concentrate on Bryan’s story and the specific situation surrounding his journey through Raccoon City.
That doesn’t necessarily mean these characters can never appear in a future Resident Evil movie.
It simply means they aren’t necessary for the story Cregger is telling in this film.
Is Resident Evil 2026 still faithful to the games?
Despite the absence of Leon, Jill and Ada, the movie is heavily inspired by the games.
Cregger is a longtime Resident Evil fan and has said that he wanted the movie to capture the experience of actually playing a Resident Evil game.
The film draws inspiration from several parts of the franchise, including Resident Evil 2, Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil 7.
One particularly interesting element is the focus on survival and resource management.
Cregger has said that viewers will be aware of Bryan’s limited ammunition and health, similar to the tension players experience when playing the games.
The movie also uses familiar elements such as Raccoon City, the T-virus and the franchise’s zombie outbreak while introducing new creatures and ideas.
Could Leon, Jill or Ada appear in a future movie?
At this point, there is no confirmed announcement that Leon, Jill or Ada will appear in a future sequel to Cregger’s movie.
For now, the 2026 film is designed around Bryan and his story.
However, leaving the famous characters out of the first movie gives the filmmakers plenty of room to expand the world later if the movie becomes successful.
Why this approach could work
Some fans may initially be disappointed that Leon, Jill and Ada aren’t involved.
But there is also an advantage to introducing a new character.
Audiences who already know the games won’t know exactly what will happen to Bryan.
Unlike Leon or Jill, Bryan doesn’t have years of established story and survival experience behind him.
That uncertainty could make the movie feel more dangerous.
The question isn’t simply:
“How will Leon survive?”
It becomes:
“Can an ordinary person survive Raccoon City’s worst night?”
And that could be exactly what makes Resident Evil 2026 different from previous adaptations.
Resident Evil 2026 Release Date
Resident Evil is scheduled to arrive in theaters on September 18, 2026.
The film is directed by Zach Cregger and stars Austin Abrams as Bryan.
What do you think?
Are you disappointed that Leon, Jill and Ada aren’t the main characters?
Or would you rather see a completely new Resident Evil story?
Tell us in the comments.
