Spend any time in the Resident Evil fandom, and you’ll quickly realize that the official games are just the beginning. For years, fans have taken Capcom’s survival horror universe and reimagined it through art, storytelling, and creative crossovers—each one grounded in a deep appreciation for the characters who’ve endured the nightmares of Raccoon City, Dulvey, and beyond.
Let’s have a look at how Resident Evil’s most interesting characters are being reimagined by the fans—and why these different interpretations hold as strongly as anything in the series.
Sherry Birkin: Child Survivor to Apocalypse Veteran
Remember the haunting “Don’t Open, Dead Inside” door in the first episode of The Walking Dead? Now imagine Sherry Birkin—all grown up, battle-hardened, and facing off against it like she owns the place.
That’s the image recreated by Reddit artist Rastifan, who envisioned Sherry, in her Resident Evil 6 incarnation, facing the zombie world of another legendary horror series. The crossover plays surprisingly well, underscoring how well Resident Evil’s characters translate to other post-apocalyptic worlds.
In the games, Sherry’s history is already a compelling trajectory: Umbrella scientist daughter, survivor of several outbreaks, then a government operative. Fanfiction tends to take that as a starting point, dropping her into whole new universes without sacrificing intelligence or resilience. She battles walkers or bioweapons, but in fanfiction, she keeps on growing in ways that the games only suggest.
Ethan Winters: Fanfiction’s Most Moldable Hero
If there’s one character who’s been given a second life in fanfiction, it’s Ethan Winters. Created in Resident Evil 7 and fleshed out in Village, Ethan has become a fan writer favorite for his mystery, trauma, and as yet unrealized potential. On platforms like Archive of Our Own, you’ll find countless alternate timelines and speculative stories—some where he uncovers Mia’s secrets early, others where he mutates into a powerful bioweapon hybrid due to the Mold and Cadou parasite.
One recurring theme is Ethan’s battle with his humanity. Some fanfics show him as the emotional center of a new bioweapon group, grappling with memories of Dulvey and what it is to be greater than human. Others see him establishing a new life with his daughter Rose, making unexpected friendships with characters such as Heisenberg. Such fanfiction tends to give Ethan a degree of emotional complexity and agency that we do not see in the games.
Mia Winters and Chris Redfield: Turbulent Past and Imperiled Future
Mia Winters, who is typically shown as elusive and morally ambiguous, is another favorite for which fans like to dissect. Fictions examine her life with The Connections, her complex relationship with Ethan, and the protracted emotional aftermath of the Baker family debacle. Fan authors examine her guilt, her secrets, and her battle to take charge of her life in a world where trust is tenuous.
Chris Redfield, on the other hand, is often envisioned as a soldier carrying a load of sorrow and remorse. Having weathered the losses he has experienced—particularly from what happened in Africa and from his time as a BSAA agent—some fan interpretations portray him as a man looking for meaning. Whether battling old foes or exploring new directions, fan fiction allows Chris to look inward, mature, and overcome demons the games only touch on.
Why Fan Reimaginings Are Important
So why do fans re-imagine Resident Evil so richly and so layered? Perhaps it is because of the mix of horror, action, and character-based storytelling. Perhaps it’s because of the emotional holes and unresolved questions left open to interpretation. Perhaps it is because so many of the characters are left with unresolved futures, allowing the fans to fill in the blanks about what happens next.
Whatever the motivation, it’s obvious that Resident Evil’s heritage extends far beyond the official canon. The fan base keeps these characters alive through narratives, artwork, and imaginative crossovers—sometimes somber, sometimes lighthearted, but always driven by enthusiasm. These reinterpretations don’t only honor the franchise; they cause it to expand and develop in ways Capcom never anticipated.
And in a zombie-prone world with bioweapons and moral gray areas, perhaps that sort of creativity is the ultimate survival mechanism.