Resident Evil 2 director Hideki Kamiya has confirmed that the protagonist Leon Kennedy's name draws from the 1994 film Léon: The Professional. Kamiya shared the origin story on social media, recounting his conversation with series creator Shinji Mikami during development. The revelation settles long-held suspicions among fans.
Hideki Kamiya, director of Resident Evil 2, posted on X about naming the game's Raccoon City newcomer. He recalled asking Shinji Mikami for input after initial suggestions were rejected. Kamiya proposed 'Leon' from a recent film he had seen, and Mikami replied, 'That's fine, I suppose.' The post was translated via DeepL and shared publicly on April 28, 2026, as first reported by Eurogamer.net. The film in question is Luc Besson's 1994 Léon: The Professional, starring Jean Reno as a milk-loving hitman and Natalie Portman in her debut as Mathilda. Fans had long speculated on the connection, noting similar references in the series like the 'Professional' difficulty mode and a handgun named Matilda. Kamiya clarified he did not name the weapon, attributing it to another Capcom staffer. Leon Kennedy returns in Resident Evil Requiem, where the character, now in his early 50s, battles mutations. The game has become Capcom's fastest-selling in the series. A story DLC is in development, with a new minigame slated for May.
