Hideki Kamiya said Resident Evil 2's Leon Kennedy was named after the 1994 film Léon: The Professional, after he discussed the protagonist's name with series creator Shinji Mikami during development. [1] Kamiya said, "Back when we were developing the game, I'd asked Mr Mikami for his opinion on the protagonist's name. After a few suggestions were rejected, I said, 'Right then, shall we take it from that film I saw the other day?' and proposed Leon, to which he replied, 'That's fine, I suppose'…" [1]
The film stars Jean Reno as Léon, a milk-loving hitman who takes a 12-year-old girl under his wing, and that character helped inspire the name. [1] Capcom later kept the connection alive in the series with the "Professional" difficulty setting and a handgun called Matilda, another nod to the film. [1] Kamiya said he did not name the Matilda handgun himself; another Capcom staff member did. [1]
Leon remains a central figure in the series. Resident Evil Requiem is the latest game to feature him, with the character now in his early 50s, and Capcom says it is the fastest-selling game in the franchise. [1] A story DLC and a new minigame for Resident Evil Requiem are planned for release in May 2026. [1]
