Who does Hilary Swank play in Yellowjackets? (Theories Explained)

Since Hilary Swank was introduced in the Yellowjackets Season 3 trailer, fans have theorized which character she could be. There are many ways it could turn out, and we’re here to shine a light on the best speculations.

Note that there will be major spoilers for Yellowjackets Season 3 below.

Yellowjackets Hilary Swank’s character explained

The Yellowjackets Season 3 First Look shows Hilary Swank’s mysterious character as she runs away from an unknown force. The Official Trailer continues with this theme, where she is once again in danger. Although she has yet to show up in Season 3, we’re getting more and more clues on who she could be.

Adult Melissa theory

Out of all the Hilary Swank character speculations, her being Adult Melissa is at the top of the list. Young Melissa’s been getting much more screen time than in past seasons, possibly hinting at her critical role in the Adult timeline.

Redditors have also noted that Hilary Swank and Jenna Burgess (Young Melissa) have some facial similarities. Sure, they may have different colored eyes, but they could totally rock some lenses, just like Sophie Nélisse does to bring Shauna’s character to life.

Yellowjacket Sibling theory

If it’s not Adult Melissa, how about Hilary Swank playing the sibling of a fallen Yellowjacket? We’ve barely scratched the surface when it comes to the families of those who died (apart from Jackie’s family), so bringing Swank in could be the perfect way to finally shed light on that. One Redditor even mentions how she could be Melissa’s sister, which would explain the facial similarities.

A sibling revenge story wouldn’t be too far-fetched, especially with how Season 3 is going. There’s definitely someone out there hunting down the surviving Yellowjackets — just look at how Shauna’s been targeted, and now Lottie’s been pulled into it, too.

Kevyn Tan’s ex theory

My personal favorite theory has to be the one that suggests Hilary Swank is actually Kevyn Tan’s ex. It seemed odd to me that his death was just swept under the rug after playing a pretty crucial role in the Adult storyline. Maybe she’s using Kevyn’s law enforcement resources to get back at the Yellowjackets as she tries to find the reason behind his sudden death.

If Swank’s character turns out to be the person messing with the Yellowjackets, it will give us an understanding of why Shauna and Lottie are the first targets. Shauna was one of the last people Kevyn was investigating before his demise, giving his ex more than enough reason to hunt her down. Kevyn was also last seen at Camp Green Pine, the “community” Lottie ran, which could explain why she’s another target.

Whatever the case, it seems like we’ll get an answer soon, especially since we’re already on the fifth episode. I’ll keep you updated on any news regarding Hilary Swank’s Yellowjackets character, whether with teasers or a new episode. While you wait, check out our feature on how Other Tai may have taken over in Season 3.