Several days ago, Resident Evil fans were treated with the first official photos of the upcoming reboot film Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City. The images show the film's lead characters, including Chris Redfield, Jill Valentine, Leon Kennedy, and Claire Redfield, alongside Albert Wesker and Brad Vickers. In an interview, the director Johannes Roberts said that Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City will be more faithful to the video game franchise compared to previous films.
Although the images did provide fans a glimpse at the tragic character Lisa Trevor, it remains a mystery which other enemies from the video game series will appear in the upcoming film. However, if Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City is going to be faithful to the games, the casting of character Richard Aiken suggests there are multiple storylines it could follow that hint at the appearance of two iconic monsters. Resident Evil spoilers ahead, as this could potentially spoil the plot of the upcoming film.
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Richard Aiken and the Giant Snake Yawn
In the 2002 remake of the first Resident Evil, Chris Redfield or Jill Valentine will find Richard in the mansion's east wing, wounded by a venomous snake. He reveals the mansion is filled with all sorts of monsters, but at this point in the game players have yet to encounter more than zombies. In Jill's version of the story, Richard is alone and she must make her way back to the mansion's pharmacy to retrieve the anti-venom. Upon doing so, Richard will rest in the hallway. However, if players take their time getting the anti-venom, they will find Richard's dead body instead. Once Jill encounters the giant snake named Yawn, if Richard is still alive he will follow Jill and sacrifice his life to protect her.
In Chris' story, players will find Richard in the same place, though he can either be alone or with Rebecca Chambers depending on whether the player has already seen her. Richard will say almost the same thing to Chris, and he will be tasked with retrieving the anti-venom. Like with Jill, time is crucial, and Richard living depends on how fast players retrieve the anti-venom. Once administered, Richard will be taken to the pharmacy to rest. Given he is not the snake room, players will have to face Yawn by themselves.
Richard Aiken and the Giant Shark Neptune
Although it is possible for Richard to not be killed by Yawn in Chris' story, he still does not survive the mansion incident. Upon reaching the Aqua Ring beneath the Guardhouse Residence, Chris will re-encounter Richard. Here, Richard tries to tells Chris to get away; but before Chris can react, Richard pushes him before a giant shark named Neptune attacks, sacrificing himself in the process. Apart from Rebecca Chambers and Enrico Marini, Richard Aiken is one of the few members of S.T.A.R.S. Bravo Team that had a significant screen time in the first Resident Evil game.
While he will always be known as self-sacrificing in the remake, Richard's story did not end the same in the original Resident Evil game. Chris or Jill instead find Richard in the mansion's east wing, wounded by Yawn, but no matter how fast they retrieve the anti-venom Richard will always die. In the end, it is exciting to consider which of these storylines the film will follow, if at all. While the film's producers have vowed that Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City will be faithful, it wouldn't be surprising if some details are altered or changed completely.
Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City premieres in theaters on November 24.
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