Back in 1996,Resident Evilkick-started a new era of gaming, bringing the survival horror genre into the spotlight. Since then,Resident Evilhas been one of the most influential horror franchises in the industry, and the firstResident Evilstill holds a special place in a lot of longtime fans' hearts. The first chapter has already been remade once, back in 2002, but many fans have been wishing for a modern retelling of the story.
The remakes ofRE2andRE3have only increased the demand for a freshRE1remake. Franchise superstars Jill Valentine and Chris Redfield led the first story, which introduced players to the game’s fascinating lore, and it would be thrilling to see them back in action with a fresh coat of paint. This idea of revisitingRE1might not be a mere pipe dream, and a potential hint from Nicole Tompkins, the voice actor forJill in theRE3remake, may point to a forthcoming remake.
2026 Could Be the Perfect Year for a Resident Evil Remake
Nicole Tompkins May Have Recently Teased a Return as Jill Valentine
A Reddit user known as1ceC0nrecently met Nicole Tompkins, the voice actor behind Jill Valentine, at a convention. When he asked her if she would be reprising her role as Jill in anRE1remake, he claims Tompkins winked in response. Of course, this is far from an official confirmation, but it’s still worth noting. If Capcom were toremakeRE1again, it seems very likely that Tompkins would be recast as Jill, and her wink is not the only reason to think that a new version of the game could be on the horizon.
In May of last year, notable industry insider DanielRPK claimed that Capcom was currently developing anRE1remake. However, this claim should be taken with a grain of salt.
Resident Evil’s 30th Anniversary
It’s hard to believe thatRE1’s 30th anniversary is less than one year away, and this milestone means that 2026 could be the perfect opportunity for a remake to show itself. Recently,all eyes have been onRE9, as many fans are eagerly awaiting the first look at the next chapter in the franchise. However, it’s possible that a remake ofRE1could arrive first as an appetizer.
It would be shocking if Capcom let such an important milestone come and go without any type of celebration, and anRE1remake would be the perfect way to mark the occasion.The legacy ofResident Evilis an impressive one, and getting to see the chapter that started it all in a brand-new light would be really meaningful for a lot of fans who have been there since the beginning.
It would be shocking if Capcom let such an important milestone come and go without any type of celebration.
Resident Evil Has Kept Silent for a While Now
Thankfully,RE4has been able to keep fans busy in between mainline entries, but the release of a newRE1remake could makethe wait forRE9feel less lengthy. It’s also possible that 2026 could give fans an exciting one-two punch with both anRE1remake andRE9releasing in the same year.
RE7director Koshi Nakanishi is returning to directRE9.
Until Capcom makes something official, though,the direction of theResident Evilfranchiseremains a big mystery. As the year continues, it will be intriguing to see if anRE1remake actually comes to fruition, but right now, it’s simply a wish.
