The Possible Return of Billy Coen in Resident Evil 9

Since the release of Resident Evil Zero in 2002, one question has continuously haunted fans: Where did Billy Coen go?

Who is Billy Coen?

Billy Coen is a former marine lieutenant who was sentenced to death for allegedly massacring civilians during a military mission in Africa. In Resident Evil Zero, which is a prequel to the first Resident Evil game, Billy escapes from a military convoy en route to the Regason Base for his execution after the military transport vehicle escorting him was forced off the road by a pack of Cerberus. In Resident Evil Zero, Billy then meets Rebecca Chambers, a member of the S.T.A.R.S. Bravo Team, to survive the bio-organic weapon (BOW) threats on the Ecliptic Express and Umbrella facilities.

Listen, little girl. If you haven't noticed, there's some pretty freaked-out things on this train. And I, for one, wanna get out of here. I don't think we stand a chance of doing it alone.

Together they uncover the horrific experiments conducted by the Umbrella Corporation.

At the end of Resident Evil Zero, Rebecca Chambers allows him to escape, telling authorities that he died later in the Arklay Mountains after their first meeting, keeping his dog tag as proof. As they say their goodbyes, Rebecca heads to meet her comrades while Coen flees, disappearing into the shadows and never being seen again.

Resident Evil 9 and Connections with Previous Series

Setting in Raccoon City Opens Big Opportunities

Raccoon City is not only the epicenter of the T-virus outbreak that devastated the Resident Evil world—but it is also the last place Billy Coen visited before vanishing. In Resident Evil Zero, Billy's story ends just before the events of Resident Evil 1 begin, and geographically he is most likely still around Raccoon Forest and its surroundings.

If Resident Evil 9 (Requiem) indeed returns to Raccoon City (albeit in a destroyed or reconstructed version), this provides a strong narrative reason to bring back “lost” characters with direct connections to the city, including Billy.

The Return of Lisa Trevor

The return of Lisa Trevor, the tragic creature from classic Resident Evil, is a signal that Capcom wants to revisit classic elements, but with an emotional and dark approach. Lisa Trevor and Billy Coen share one major similarity: both are victims of a cruel system portrayed as “enemies” by the official narrative.

Capcom could create a thematic parallel between Lisa and Billy in RE9:

• Lisa is an experiment tortured by Umbrella.
• Billy is a soldier victim of slander and released amid a bio-organic outbreak.
• Both live in shadows and are technically "missing" or "presumed dead."

If Lisa can come back, why not Billy?

New Character Grace Ashcroft Could Be Related

In the Resident Evil world, new characters are often connected to older figures. Grace Ashcroft, named as a new protagonist in RE9, could possibly:

• Encounter Billy as a mysterious NPC survivor living among the ruins of Raccoon City, helping Grace from the shadows without revealing his identity.
• Meet Billy as a mysterious figure who saves her.
• Receive help from a "shadow insider" later revealed to be Billy.
• Represent a new generation, while Billy symbolizes the unresolved past.

Narrative connections like these are not new to the franchise and could be an elegant way to blend classic and new characters.

Conclusion: Very Likely, Even Logical

The return of the Raccoon City setting, the comeback of Lisa Trevor, and the absence of other veteran figures open a very realistic space for Billy Coen to return. Capcom has a unique opportunity to revive this tragic character in a new context while respecting story continuity.

For longtime fans, this could be a major moment awaited for more than two decades. And for new players, Billy could serve as a window into Raccoon City's dark history—a city that, although destroyed, never fully dies in the Resident Evil world.