After practically 30 years of hypothesis, Resident Evil 2 director Hideki Kamiya has confirmed that, sure, Leon S. Kennedy is known as after the Léon: The Professional film.
The Capcom alum and motion sport developer icon revealed the inspiration for probably the most recognizable horror protagonists of all time with a easy post on X/Twitter in the present day. It follows a long time of theories from followers who already believed Leon’s identify had originated from the 1994 movie, nevertheless it’s nonetheless affirmation, nonetheless.
Kamiya recalled naming Leon when consulting with Resident Evil creator Shinji Mikami. After just a few concepts have been shot down, the director said (by way of Google Translate), “Properly, why do not we simply take it from that film I watched the opposite day?”
“And his response was merely, ‘Yeah, that works,'” Kamiya added.
Resident Evil followers have drawn the connection between Léon: The Professional and Leon S. Kennedy lengthy earlier than in the present day. Other than the apparent similarities between the names of the survival horror online game hero and the character Jean Reno performed within the ’90s, Resident Evil has famously featured a “Professional” issue setting for years.
There’s additionally the Matilda, a handgun that Resident Evil Leon has been recognized to make use of prior to now, which has all the time been assumed to be a reference to the character Natalie Portman performed within the movie, Mathilda. Kamiya clarified that this potential reference, nevertheless, is just not one he got here up with, however one thing another person at Capcom added after he left.
Followers have been already fast to react to the Resident Evil revelation after it introduced an finish to hypothesis that dates again to the discharge of the unique sequel again in 1998. Kamiya mentioned the response is sudden, joking that he is shocked he hadn’t talked about the connections to Léon: The Professional as a result of it wasn’t one thing he deliberately tried to cover.
Kamiya directed Resident Evil 2 earlier than occurring to carve out a trendy new route for motion gaming with the unique Satan Might Cry. He later went on to guide celebrated classics like Okami and Viewtiful Joe earlier than leaving Capcom to co-found PlatinumGames, which ultimately helped lead to video games like Bayonetta, Steel Gear Rising: Revengeance, the Fantastic 101, and extra. After leaving PlatinumGames in 2023, he is since began his new studio, Clovers, which helps Capcom develop Okami 2.
Kamiya’s affect on Resident Evil can nonetheless be felt to this present day. Along with the massively in style Resident Evil 2 remake that arrived in early 2019, Leon has remained an necessary identify in gaming due to titles just like the Resident Evil 4 remake from 2023 and Resident Evil Requiem, which launched this previous February.
Michael Cripe is a contract author with IGN. He is finest recognized for his work at websites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. You should definitely give him a observe on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).
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