Who is the villain in Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City?

The Real Reason Resident Evil: Welcome To Raccoon City Cut This Major Villain

By Nathan Simmons/Nov. 23, 2021 8:42 am EST

The "Resident Evil" franchise has been home to some of the scariest villains in video game history. From Nemesis to Lady Dimitrescu, players have fought (or run away from) some incredible characters over the years, but one of the most memorable undead baddies must be the bio organic weapon known as Mr. X. And although Mr. X has become infamous for his ability to tirelessly chase Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield from room to room in "Resident Evil 2" and its remake, one place he will not be entering is the upcoming "Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City."

During an interview with the ComicBook Nation podcast (per ComicBook), "Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City" director Johannes Robert explained that although he desperately wanted to include the infamous Tyrant, the hulking enemy did not quite make the cut. Though the director still tried to squeeze in an Easter egg referencing the character, it sounds like this may also have been scrapped — and for good reason.

Why Mr. X was X'd

"The one thing that I wanted to put in and I didn't, I just couldn't find a way to put in was Mr. X," Johannes Roberts explained. The director still tried to include a reference in the character, but it sounds like this may also have been scrapped. "There is a nod. It's tricky to see in the shot and I was like, 'Just use that shot,' but it doesn't work in the movie."

Roberts didn't specifically say why the proposed Mr. X reference "doesn't work" in the final cut, but the director hinted that focusing on the reference would have detracted from the story too much. As he told ComicBook Nation, "with a movie you have to actually tell a proper movie rather than just use the shots that you want."

Although everyone's favorite Tyrant may not quite be ready for his close-up, "Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City" still promises to bring a number of recognizable monsters and enemies from the games to life. The trailers have featured appearances from zombified Cerberus dogs and the Licker, while a recent clip gave fans a look at the terrifying introduction of the deranged Lisa Trevor. The adaptation is also set to feature more human evils, like Albert Wesker (Lance Reddick) and Chief Irons (Donal Logue), so "Welcome to Raccoon City" should have no shortage of game-based horrors. 

Mr. X might have simply been one villain too many for the packed horror flick. Fans will just have to find out when "Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City" releases on Nov. 24.

Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City, the first live-action movie based on the Resident Evil video games in five years, releases in theaters soon. But one such monster never left the film's cutting room floor. According to director Johannes Roberts, the trenchcoat-donning tyrant Mr. X, made famous by his reappearance in Resident Evil 2: Remake, came just shy of appearing in the film.

The original Resident Evil movie franchise starring Milla Jovovich lasted for six films, with their theatrical releases spread across fourteen years. Since then, the video games have continued to thrive, with Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, Resident Evil 2: Remake, and Resident Evil Village serving as examples of the series' recent smash-hit success in the gaming medium. A franchise of CGI-animated films based on Resident Evil also continues to this day, with the Netflix-exclusive series Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness being the most recent entry.

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Roberts, who is also notable for directing shark thriller 47 Meters Down and its sequel, spoke to ComicBook Nation Podcast to reveal that Mr. X was almost a featured villain in Welcome to Raccoon City. He admitted that he couldn't find a way to put the tyrant in the film, stating that he had a shot that could have nodded to Mr. X. Whether that nod would be an easter egg or something larger isn't made clear, but the director ultimately chose not to use that shot, noting his responsibility to use shots that fit the film's story rather than shots that he wanted.

via Sony

In addition to director Roberts, Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City features many stars including Kaya Scodelario as Claire Redfield, Hannah John-Kamen as Jill Valentine, Robert Amell as Chris Redfield, Avan Jogia as Leon S. Kennedy, and Tom Hopper as Albert Wesker. Other cast members include Lily Gao, Donal Logue, and Neal McDonough. Many monsters will also appear in the film, including the iconic zombie dogs, William Birkin's zombified form, and the dreaded Licker.

Mr. X may not be appearing in Resident Evil: Welcome to Racoon City, but the film looks like it will be an exciting action-horror adventure regardless. It's clear that Resident Evil fans will have a lot to look forward to, and perhaps Mr. X could potentially appear in a sequel.

For now, Resident Evil: Welcome to Racoon City has stirred excitement among fans for being a faithful adaptation of Capcom's legendary franchise. This includes using accurate costumes for beloved characters like Claire and Leon and the design of the monsters onscreen.

Who is the monster in Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City?

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