The character of Jill Valentine is popular amongst fans of the Resident Evil videogame franchise, but writer-director Paul W.S. Anderson didn't see fit to include her in his 2002 adaptation of Resident Evil, opting to invent the lead character with Milla Jovovich's Alice. Anderson tried to make up for the lack of game characters with the 2004 sequel, Resident Evil: Apocalypse (which Anderson only wrote and produced), by introducing British actress Sienna Guillory as Valentine.
Despite Apocalypse being eviscerated by critics, the sequel was a success at the box office, earning $129 million worldwide. Guillory was offered to reprise the role in 2007's Resident Evil: Extinction, but her commitment to 2006's Eragon wouldn't allow her. Instead of replacing Guillory, the character wasn't included. Then, in last year's Resident Evil: Afterlife, Guillory made a cameo as Valentine at the end of the movie which seemed to set up a "Valentine vs. Alice" storyline for the next sequel, now titled Resident Evil: Retribution.
In March, Guillory announced via her Twitter that she had started training for Retribution, seeming to confirm herself online. However, when Anderson was confirmed to direct Retribution, the news also revealed that the role of Jill Valentine was going to be recast.
more about Resident Evil: Retribution >> Posted 08.29.11 by Ryan